Managers in Fantasy Premier League should be factoring in Blank Gameweek 18 and next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Asian Cup tournaments when planning their festive transfers.
Manchester City’s involvement in the FIFA World Club Championship next week means Erling Haaland (£14.0m), the most-popular player in Fantasy, is without a Premier League fixture in Gameweek 18, even if he recovers from injury.
The same applies to his team-mates Ederson (£5.5m), Kyle Walker (£5.3m) and Julian Alvarez (£6.9m), who are also popular picks in their respective positions.
Meanwhile, AFCON and the Asian Cup will heavily impact FPL managers’ midfields.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (£13.2m) and Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min (£9.7m), the top-scoring two players in Fantasy, could be absent from domestic action from Gameweeks 21-24, depending on the progress of their respective nations.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m) and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan (£5.8m) will also participate in the Asian Cup. They are owned in 22 and 12 per cent of squads respectively.
Essentially, then, managers in Fantasy now have four free transfers over the next four Gameweeks to prepare for the departures of Salah and Son in Gameweek 21.
In addition to that, the 1.6million managers who sold Haaland for Gameweek 17 may want to use a transfer to bring him back later this month, while those who still have the Norwegian in their squad may need to use two transfers to sell him and bring him back.
When these factors are combined, it underlines the importance of Fantasy managers making long-term plans and ensuring they are not wasting precious transfers on luxury, short-term moves.
By assessing clubs' schedules, managers can target the best players to bring in for a number of Gameweeks.
AFC Bournemouth: GW17-19
Matches with Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Fulham in the next three Gameweeks have made AFC Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke (£6.8m) the go-to Haaland replacement.
Marcos Senesi (£4.4m) also offers promise as a budget rotation pick in defence, with two goals and three clean sheets in his side’s current five-match unbeaten run.
Bournemouth's next three fixtures
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | LUT (H) | 2 |
| 18 | NFO (A) | 2 |
| 19 | FUL (H) | 2 |
*Fixture Difficulty Ratings (1= easiest, 5 = hardest)
Newcastle GW17-19, GW23-32
Despite being suspended for Gameweek 17, Kieran Trippier’s (£7.0m) subsequent schedule suggests owners should view him as a long-term hold.
Each of Newcastle United's next three matches score two in the FDR, with home encounters against Fulham and Nott’m Forest giving Anthony Gordon (£6.2m) the opportunity for more hauls at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s side do have a testing three-match run over Gameweeks 20-22 but after that their schedule is exceptional: eight of their 10 matches over Gameweeks 23-32 score just two.
That could also promote the idea of a double-up in the Magpies’ defence once their injury situation clears.
Spurs: GW17-32
Pedro Porro (£5.4m) has emerged as the must-have defender for Gameweek 17, brought in by over 250,000+ managers.
The Spaniard has also been one of the most consistent defenders in 2023/24, producing either defensive or attacking returns in 10 of his 15 outings.
Spurs’ long-term schedule means Porro can remain in Fantasy squads for months to come.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), just one of their next 16 matches scores more than three.
Richarlison (£6.6m) could be a handy option as a temporary Son replacement if he continues up front, although James Maddison (£7.8m) will be a big favourite again when fit.
Chelsea: GW18-24
Mauricio Pochettino’s side may have the fixtures but their lack of form limits the options to Cole Palmer (£5.5m) for now.
The midfielder has averaged 5.5 points per match since making his full debut in Gameweek 7, thanks to five goals and three assists.
Seven of Chelsea’s next eight matches score only two, which could bring assets such as Malo Gusto (£4.1m) and Christopher Nkunku (£7.3m) into contention once they are fully fit.
Chelsea's next eight fixtures
| GW | Opp. | FDR | GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | SHU (H) | 2 | 21 | FUL (H) | 2 |
| 18 | WOL (A) | 2 | 22 | LIV (A) | 4 |
| 19 | CRY (H) | 2 | 23 | WOL (H) | 2 |
| 20 | LUT (A) | 2 | 24 | CRY (A) | 2 |
Aston Villa: GW18-30
If you don’t own Ollie Watkins (£8.5m), now is the time to get him. Along with Haaland, he is likely to be a key asset when Salah and Son depart for international duties.
Although their Blank Gameweek 18 home clash with Sheffield United is the immediate draw, Aston Villa’s kind long-term schedule allows them to offer options in every position in Fantasy.
At the back, Emiliano Martinez (£5.0m), Pau Torres (£4.7m) and Diego Carlos (£4.4m) offer secure routes into one of the league’s tightest defences.
Leon Bailey (£5.5m) and Douglas Luiz (£5.6m) provide further options in the sub-£6.0m midfield bracket, with the latter available from Blank Gameweek 18 after he serves a one-match ban.
Arsenal: GW19-22
Arsenal’s schedule after Blank Gameweek 18 boosts the appeal of investing heavily in their key picks.
While Bukayo Saka (£9.0m) is already owned in 58 per cent of squads, Martin Odegaard (£8.3m) could prove a handy Salah or Son replacement against West Ham United, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nott'm Forest.
William Saliba (£5.5m) is the most secure defender for Mikel Arteta’s side, while Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.2m) boasts a greater upside for attacking returns and bonus points.
Arsenal's fixtures GW19-22
| GW | Opp. | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | WHU (H) | 2 |
| 20 | FUL (A) | 2 |
| 21 | CRY (H) | 2 |
| 22 | NFO (A) | 4 |
Man City: GW19-27
The champions’ fine upcoming schedule shows why Haaland sellers will be rushing back to him.
Just one of Man City’s next 10 matches scores more than three in the FDR, which includes clashes with Everton, Sheff Utd and Burnley in three of the four Gameweeks immediately following their Blank Gameweek 18.
Phil Foden (£7.6m) and Jeremy Doku (£6.7m) could come into contention as short-term Salah or Son replacements.
Brighton: GW21-28
Managers should monitor the Seagulls for signs of form ahead of their fine run of opponents.
From Gameweek 21 onwards, seven of their eight matches score a mere two in the FDR, lifting their prospects at both ends of the pitch.
As Roberto De Zerbi’s side have yet to keep a clean sheet, the attention should be focused on attack for now.
Winger Simon Adingra (£5.0m) should remain a secure pick in Mitoma’s upcoming absence, while Joao Pedro (£5.4m) could be a handy third forward.
View all the latest FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 17 in Fantasy Premier League