Gameweek 23: Salah's Return Reshapes Transfer Plans & Budget Defenders Explode

Welcome back to your essential FPL briefing! Thanks for subscribing to Who Got The Points. With the Gameweek 23 deadline fast approaching this Saturday at 11 AM, we're cutting through the noise to bring you actionable insights on the hottest transfers, differential picks, and tactical moves that could make or break your green arrows this week.

Before we dive into transfers, here's what you need to know right now:

Transfer momentum: Over 84,000 managers have brought in the Liverpool midfielder

Recent performance: Started and played the full 90 minutes against Burnley, scoring once and collecting 3 bonus points for a 10-point haul in GW22. Season tally: 3 goals and 2 assists across 81 total points.

Fixtures: Liverpool face Bournemouth away - a team conceding at both ends

Expected points: 7.7 for GW23

VERDICT: Good option. He's showing genuine attacking threat and clearly trusted by Arne Slot. However, watch for Salah's return potentially affecting his minutes. If you need a mid-price midfielder with upside, Wirtz delivers, but he's not risk-free with Liverpool's attacking depth.

Transfer momentum: 75,000 transfers in make this the budget enabler everyone's chasing

Recent performance: Assisted and played 90 minutes for 6 points in GW22. Four price rises already this season tell you everything about his value trajectory.

Season stats: 6 clean sheets and 3 assists - serious attacking output from a £4.4m defender

Fixtures: West Ham (A), Burnley (H) in GW24, Arsenal (A) in GW25

Expected points: 5.6 for GW23

VERDICT: Essential if you need budget cash. At £4.4m, Mukiele is freeing up funds across the board while actually contributing meaningful points. This is an absolute no-brainer for squad structure. He enables premium upgrades elsewhere while delivering 5-6 points per week. Lock him in.

Transfer momentum: 25,000 managers moving to the Everton keeper

Recent performance: Grabbed 10 points in GW22 with a clean sheet at Villa plus 3 bonus points

Season stats: 9 clean sheets with 62 saves totaling 100 points - premium output at mid-price

Fixtures: Leeds (H) on Monday, then Brighton (A) and Bournemouth (H)

Expected points: 6.0 for GW23

VERDICT: Essential for goalkeepers. Under David Moyes, Everton's defensive structure is dramatically improved. The fixtures are kind, and at £5.6m, Pickford offers premium returns at mid-price. This is one of the safest picks of the gameweek - lock him in immediately.

Transfer momentum: 80,000 managers dumping the midfielder

Recent performance: Came off the bench for just 19 minutes in GW22, grabbing an assist for 4 points

Season output: Only 4 goals and 2 assists all season - underwhelming returns

Fixtures: Arsenal (A), Fulham (H), Spurs (A)

Expected points: 3.7 for GW23

VERDICT: Sell immediately. At £8.0m, you're paying premium money for a rotation risk who isn't delivering consistent returns and clearly isn't in Ruben Amorim's first eleven plans. Better options exist at that price point - move him on this week.

Transfer momentum: 25,000 transfers out

Recent performance: Played 77 minutes against Burnley for just 2 points with no attacking returns

Season stats: 4 goals and 3 assists sounds decent, but with Salah back and Liverpool's midfield packed with quality, minutes aren't guaranteed

Expected points: 5.1 against Bournemouth

VERDICT: Hold if you own him, but don't buy. The price has risen twice, but he's primarily a defensive midfielder. Better £5-6m midfielders are available with clearer attacking roles. If you already own him, he's not urgent to remove, but new buyers should look elsewhere.

Transfer momentum: 24,000 transfers out

Recent performance: Only 10 minutes in GW22 for 1 point tells you everything

Season output: 5 goals and 2 assists show potential, but Pep Guardiola rotated heavily in the derby and Reijnders is suffering

Fixtures: Wolves (H), Spurs (A)

Expected points: 4.9 for GW23

VERDICT: Sell if you need reliability. He's a classic Pep roulette victim. If you're chasing differentials and can handle the bench risk, hold, but most managers need safer options who will actually start matches.

Looking for secret weapons to climb your mini-league? These low-owned players could deliver captaincy-level hauls:

Recent form: Hauled 9 points in GW22 with a clean sheet and 3 bonus points

Season threat: 3 goals from defense is exceptional - clear set-piece threat with 84 total points

Fixtures: Aston Villa (H), Liverpool (A), Spurs (H)

Expected points: 6.2 for GW23

Eddie Howe's side are solid defensively, and Thiaw offers genuine goal threat from set pieces. Low ownership with high ceiling potential - perfect for differential hunters looking to gain rank.

Note: Just over the differential threshold but worth mentioning for those seeking consistent returns

Season output: 8 goals and 5 assists - exceptional midfielder numbers

Set-piece role: On everything for Newcastle

Expected points: 7.2 for GW23 with Villa at home

A consistent returner who's flying under the radar. If you're looking for a reliable midfielder at this price point with genuine captain potential in good fixtures, Bruno G delivers week after week.

Captaincy pick for GW23: Focus on Man City at home to Wolves or Liverpool away to Bournemouth - both fixtures scream goals. If Salah starts, he's the obvious choice given Bournemouth's leaky defense. Monitor team news closely, and if there's any doubt about his minutes, pivot to a City attacker.

Key tactical tip: Don't ignore Everton's defense under David Moyes. Pickford and their back line are delivering consistent clean sheets. Leeds at home is a great fixture - consider doubling up on Everton defenders if you have the budget. This could be the differential defense move that separates you from your rivals.

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That's your complete GW23 briefing. Make your moves count, and let's chase those green arrows together. Good luck!

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