Welcome back, FPL managers! With Gameweek 28's deadline hitting on Friday at 6:30pm, there's no time to waste. In this edition, we break down every key transfer target, who to sell, differential picks under 10% ownership, and the captaincy call for GW28. Let's get into it.
Want to get ahead of your mini-league rivals all season long? Check out Fantasy Football Hub – now 30% off. And make sure you're subscribed to Who Got The Points? for daily FPL updates.
📰 GW27 News & Key Injury Updates
Hill
Virgil
Before we get into transfers, here's what you need to know from the latest team news:
Reece James started GW27 for Chelsea - a huge fitness signal for FPL managers holding him, but keep an eye on his minutes going forward.
Estevao has picked up an injury, limiting Chelsea's creative options ahead of a tricky GW28 trip to Arsenal.
Chelsea's set-piece delivery has also been flagged as a concern this season, which caps upside for their defenders.
Phil Foden made way for Omar Marmoush in Man City's starting lineup against Newcastle - rotation is firmly on Guardiola's agenda.
Barnes was also benched for Man City vs Newcastle, so Newcastle assets need monitoring.
Kroupi started for West Ham in their goalless draw with Bournemouth - a potential budget route into that backline worth watching.
✅ Transfers IN: Who to Bring in Before the Deadline
1. O'Reilly (Man City DEF) - ESSENTIAL
This is the headline transfer of the week and it's not particularly close.
Price: £4.9m
Ownership: 5.8%
GW27 points: 17 (2 goals, max bonus)
Transfers in this week: 93,000+
Season totals: 4 goals, 3 assists, 10 clean sheets
Total season points: 117
GW28 fixture: Man City vs Leeds (H) - very favourable
GW28 xPts: 8.3
At under £5m, O'Reilly is doing things that premium defenders dream about. Two goals in a single gameweek, maximum bonus points, and 10 clean sheets from a Man City backline - all for a price that leaves serious budget flexibility elsewhere. Man City face Leeds in GW28, which is about as good a fixture as you can ask for. With 93,000+ managers already moving for him, his price will rise. If you don't have him, act now.
Essential. Get him in before his price rises further. At 5.8% ownership, he won't stay a differential for long.
2. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool DEF) - GOOD
Price: £5.9m
Ownership: 23.7%
Transfers in this week: 32,000+
Season: 8 clean sheets, consistent set-piece threat
GW28 fixture: Liverpool vs West Ham (H) - difficulty rating 2
GW29 fixture: Away at Wolves (trickier)
GW28 xPts: 6.5
Virgil remains Liverpool's defensive leader and Arne Slot's side have been impressively solid at the back. Hosting West Ham in GW28 with a fixture difficulty of just 2 makes this a very appealing clean sheet opportunity. His set-piece threat gives him that extra attacking ceiling too. GW29 away at Wolves is worth noting as a potential rotation point, but GW28 looks excellent.
Good. A solid premium defensive pick if you can fit him in - especially with West Ham visiting Anfield in GW28.
3. Truffert (Bournemouth DEF) - GOOD FOR BUDGET SQUADS
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 1.9%
GW27 points: 6 (clean sheet)
Season: Bournemouth have kept 7 clean sheets
GW28 fixture: Bournemouth vs Sunderland (H) - difficulty rating 2
GW28 xPts: 4.8
Season total points: 95
If you're looking for a cheap defensive enabler to free up funds elsewhere, Truffert is a sneaky option. At £4.5m and just 1.9% ownership, he's as differential as it gets. Bournemouth have kept 7 clean sheets this season under Andoni Iraola and host Sunderland in GW28 - a very manageable fixture. The clean sheet potential is real and the price is dirt cheap.
Good for budget squads. A cheap, low-ownership clean sheet option with a great GW28 fixture.
❌ Transfers OUT: Who to Sell Before Friday
1. Thiago (Brentford FWD) - SELL
Price: £7.1m
Ownership: 31.8%
GW27 points: 2 (blank)
Transfers out this week: ~12,000
Form rating: 2.6
GW28 xPts: 3.1
Season goals: 17 - but he's gone very cold
The goals were flowing earlier in the season, but Thiago has completely dropped off in recent weeks. Brentford lost 2-0 to Brighton in GW27 and face Burnley in GW28 - a fixture that sounds manageable on paper but the underlying numbers don't inspire confidence. With a form rating of just 2.6 and expected points of only 3.1, the value simply isn't there anymore at £7.1m.
Sell if you have a better forward option available. His form rating of 2.6 tells the real story.
2. Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea MID) - SELL
Price: £6.9m
Ownership: 22.1%
GW27 points: 2 (blank)
Transfers out this week: 41,000+
GW28 fixture: Arsenal (A) - nightmare
GW28 xPts: 3.9
Estevao injured - Chelsea's creativity looks limited
Over 41,000 managers are already moving Enzo on and it's hard to argue with them. Chelsea drew with Burnley in GW27 and now face Arsenal away in GW28 - about as tough as it gets. With Estevao injured, Chelsea's creative spark is dulled further, and set-piece concerns mean even their defensive assets carry limited upside. The expected points of 3.9 for GW28 say it all.
Sell. Rotate funds into better assets ahead of a tough run - Arsenal away is not the fixture to hold him for.
3. Rogers (Aston Villa MID) - HOLD OR SELL
Price: £7.7m
Ownership: 31.6%
GW27 points: 2 (blank vs Leeds, 1-1 draw)
Transfers out this week: ~11,000
Season: 8 goals, 5 assists
Form rating: 4.8
GW28 fixture: Away at Wolves - difficulty 2 for Wolves at home
Rogers has had a solid season overall with 8 goals and 5 assists, but the recent blank against Leeds and a trip to Wolves in GW28 makes this a tricky hold. His form rating of 4.8 suggests he's not completely cold, but better value options exist right now. If you need the funds to bring in O'Reilly or Virgil, Rogers is a reasonable one to move on.
Hold if you're happy to wait for his form to return. Sell if you need the funds for O'Reilly or Virgil.
🎯 Differential Picks: Under 10% Ownership
These are the picks that could separate you from your mini-league rivals in GW28. O'Reilly (covered above) heads this list, but here are two more worth considering:
Konsa (Aston Villa DEF) - £4.4m | 8% Ownership
Price: £4.4m
Ownership: 8%
GW27 points: 7 (assist vs Leeds)
Season: 8 clean sheets from Villa's backline
GW28 fixture: Away at Wolves
GW28 xPts: 5.1
Total season points: 87
At £4.4m, Konsa is an absolute steal for a defender who contributes attacking returns. Seven points in GW27 with an assist, 8 clean sheets on his season record, and at just 8% ownership he's a genuine differential. Villa's trip to Wolves in GW28 has a home difficulty rating of 2 for Wolves, meaning Villa are favoured. If you're building a budget defensive line, Konsa belongs in it.
Petrović (Bournemouth GKP) - £4.5m | 4.4% Ownership
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 4.4%
GW27 points: 9 (clean sheet vs West Ham)
Season: 7 clean sheets, 83 saves
GW28 fixture: Bournemouth vs Sunderland (H)
GW28 xPts: 5.2
Total season points: 85
Petrović is quietly one of the best budget goalkeepers in the game right now. Nine points in GW27 with a clean sheet against West Ham, 7 clean sheets for the season, and 83 saves - he's kept busy but he's delivering massive returns. Hosting Sunderland in GW28 is a very manageable fixture and at just 4.4% ownership, he's a genuine differential at the goalkeeper position. Pair him with Truffert for a cheap-as-chips Bournemouth double-up.
🏆 Captaincy Pick for Gameweek 28
Semenyo (Man City FWD) - £8.0m | 51.8% Ownership
Price: £8.0m
Ownership: 51.8%
GW27 points: 4 (blank vs Newcastle)
Season: 13 goals, 6 assists
GW28 fixture: Man City vs Leeds (A)
GW28 xPts: 7.5
Yes, he blanked in GW27 with just 4 points against Newcastle, but Semenyo remains the standout captaincy pick for GW28. Man City face Leeds away and Guardiola's side are in excellent form. With 13 goals and 6 assists this season, Semenyo's underlying quality is undeniable. At 7.5 expected points for GW28, he's the safest big-hitter to hand the armband to. The blank last week just means he's due - and Leeds will struggle to contain him.
Top captaincy pick for GW28 despite the blank. Man City vs Leeds is the fixture to exploit.
⚡ Key Takeaways Before Friday's Deadline
O'Reilly (£4.9m) is the must-own of GW28 - 17 points last week, 10 clean sheets, scoring goals from defence at a budget price. Get him in NOW.
Virgil (£5.9m) is a premium defensive option with West Ham at home in GW28 - solid clean sheet potential with set-piece upside.
Truffert (£4.5m) and Konsa (£4.4m) are budget gems for managers looking to free up funds elsewhere.
Sell Enzo before Arsenal away in GW28 - 41,000+ managers agree.
Thiago's form (2.6 rating, 3.1 xPts) no longer justifies his £7.1m price tag.
Semenyo is your GW28 captain - 7.5 xPts against Leeds with 13 goals and 6 assists this season.
Petrović is a compelling £4.5m goalkeeper differential with 7 clean sheets and Sunderland at home.
Deadline is Friday at 6:30pm - don't leave your transfers late!
Ready to take your FPL game to the next level? Get access to expert analysis, optimal transfer tools, and mini-league winning strategies with Fantasy Football Hub - 30% off today. And for daily FPL updates just like this one, subscribe at Who Got The Points.