By
Jack Woodfield
The football and FPL landscapes are vastly different terrains since Gameweek 24. The biggest swap deal in recent Premier League history saw Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan exchanges pastures. We learned that Sean Dyche used to put worms in his mouth. Arsene Wenger actually outtacticked another manager. And Jesse Lingard may not be the 'dab hand' differential we were promised.
There's also that pesky transfer window hanging over Gameweek 25 (it closes 23:00 GMT on Wednesday, 31 January), with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Aymeric Laporte and Edin Dzeko among the star names liable to disturb FPL bosses' plans ahead of the 30 Jan deadline.
In this preview I'll dissect the impact of impending transfers on your GW25 squads, calculate how and whether Sanchez and Mkhitaryan represent improved value, injuries, fixtures and, forgive me, the return of #KaneExit.
Fixtures focus
On paper, there are straightforward fixtures for Man City and Chelsea in GW25, while Arsenal and Liverpool have winnable yet challenging away games, especially in Arsenal's case given Swansea's upset triumph against Liverpool in GW24.
One star name who instantly stands out is Sergio Aguero. My top captain tip for GW24, his fringe-inspired hat-trick against Newcastle preceded a well-taken League Cup goal against Bristol City. Alan Pardew's reenergised West Brom travel to the Etihad Stadium on the back of just one defeat in seven including that extraordinary FA Cup triumph against Liverpool, but they will find it tough against the in-form striker. Another bona fide captaincy pick.
https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/955907039775154176
While Aguero thrived in GW24, Liverpool stunk. Their 1-0 reverse at Swansea was a crushing blow after they upended Man City's unbeaten run one week prior, compounded further by an abrupt FA Cup exit, their third-straight fourth round FA cup departure under Jurgen Klopp.
But whereas Swansea defended for their lives, Huddersfield under David Wagner have generally been more attack-minded at home against bigger teams - see that excellent performance against Man City - and this could create more opportunities for Liverpool's counter-attacking stars to shine. Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have proven devastating on the break, and both represent intriguing differential captaincy picks.
The pick fixture of GW25 sees Man United travel to Spurs. Second vs. fifth. Sanchez will inevitably break his Premier League duck for the Red Devils, but a more pressing concern FPL-wise is Jesse Lingard. Two successive league blanks after his ownership nearly doubled between GWs 22-23 led to the Dab-ulous one's price dropping last week, and the once-essential differential is suddenly a decidedly less attractive option. Jose Mourinho's recent omission of him as one of United's "high quality" attacking options is, if nothing else, indicative of his anonymity in recent games.
https://twitter.com/FFScout/status/956560499319214080
Of course, Lingard's well-taken cameo goal against Yeovil in the FA Cup may spare him becoming fodder for Sanchez, and the two could very well start together against Spurs. However, if you're set on making the swap, Xherdan Shaqiri should be on your radar. The Swiss magician was truly excellent against Huddersfield, and he is not only cheaper than Lingard, but likely to play more minutes in GW25 (Lingard's completed 90 minutes just twice) and to create more chances. Shaqiri's 49 chances created this season compares to Lingard's 19.
Plans go out the (transfer) window
There are some fascinating transfer narratives to monitor ahead of GW25, with Laporte, Aubameyang and Dzeko among the major prospective incomings.
Laporte's move to City from Athletic Bilbao is reportedly progressing at pace, although it seems unlikely he would dislodge either John Stones or Nicolas Otamendi for GW25. However, Stones' return has not been without consequence for City, with the Englishman yet to feature in a clean sheet, and it's telling that Pep Guardiola is willing to spend £57m on a defender to add further competition.
https://twitter.com/FPLDino/status/955912229827817475
Pep said in December he “cannot rely” on captain Vincent Kompany to be fit, and unless Guardiola reverts to a back three to incorporate Laporte, Otamendi and Stones, it is likely the latter that would make way if City maintain four at the back.
Tuesday night's 18:45 FPL deadline leaves a 24-hour gap of uncertainty prior to Wednesday's transfer deadline, and Aubameyang and Dzeko are ones to watch before confirming your team.
Aubameyang was reportedly targeted for a starting berth for Arsenal against Swansea, and a deal is said to be close.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/957830828255571968
Negotiations too are progressing regarding Dzeko's switch from Roma, although rumours suggest Olivier Giroud could be on Chelsea's radar if the Blues can't complete a deal for the Bosnian. Given Alvaro Morata's struggles since the turn of the year there's every chance either Dzeko or Giroud could usurp the Spaniard's starting role going forward, although Morata will likely be safe for GW25.
Elsewhere in London, keep an eye out for West Ham. With Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic facing spells on the sidelines, David Moyes is actively pursuing recruitments, with Graziano Pelle the latest name linked.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/957876396327669761
#KaneExit, again
Spurs have as settled a frontline as an FPL boss could wish for. But with an abysmal run of fixtures approaching - Man United (H), Liverpool (A) and Arsenal (H) their next three - it's unsurprising that #KaneExit is back dividing the FPL community.
Kane is in good form with three goals in two, but logic dictates that Spurs are less likely to do well against two of the four teams above them in the league.
Essentially, the decision to keep or sell Kane depends on whether or not you own Aguero. If you didn't own the Argentine in GW24, you'll likely be finding it hard to resist bringing him in for GW25. Considering Man City's appealing fixtures and Aguero's lack of competition given Gabriel Jesus' injury, Aguero is the top short-term pick compared with Kane, at least until GW28 when Spurs' fixtures smoothen out.
https://twitter.com/FPLJudas/status/956855883136471040
If you already own both players, or you can shift your funds to accommodate both, then you may as well stop reading. But if you're struggling to afford the two highest-priced strikers in FPL, you'll most likely have to pick between them.
To Sanchez or not to Sanchez?
Last year, owning Sanchez was a no-brainer. The Chilean finished as the highest-scoring FPL player, and despite being well below par this season, his arrival at Man United is a tremendous opportunity particularly for those looking to close ground on mini-league rivals.
As of writing, Sanchez has just 3.5% ownership. But his £11.7m price tag is problematic. After all, to afford the likes of Salah, Sterling, Kane and or Aguero on top of Sanchez will cause ripples through your squad. Using an early Wildcard is an option, though, and Huddersfield's visit to Old Trafford in GW26 seems an opportune time to strike.
Regarding Mkhitaryan, there's less incentive. His form was far too erratic at Man United to justify optimism he will return instant gains at Arsenal, but at £7.6m, GW25 will be a litmus test for whether he could yet become a curious differential for the rest of the season.
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