GW35 Essential Transfers: Cherki, O'Reilly & The Differential You Need Now

Welcome to your Gameweek 35 briefing! The deadline is Friday 1st May at 5:30pm, so there's no time to waste. Below you'll find everything you need: the top three transfers in, who to consider moving on, differential picks under 10% ownership, and your captaincy recommendation. Let's get into it.

Cherki is the hottest transfer of the week - surging with over 267,000 transfers in already. He has registered 11 assists and 4 goals this season and faces Everton at Goodison Park in GW35, where he carries an expected 8.2 points. Man City have been in devastating form and Cherki is at the creative heart of everything they do. We flagged him as a differential just days ago and he is rapidly becoming mainstream.

Verdict: Essential. Get him in before the Friday 5:30pm deadline.

Over 182,000 transfers in this week, and it's easy to see why. O'Reilly has accumulated 13 clean sheets, 5 goals, and 4 assists this season, and carries a remarkable 9.5 expected points for GW35. A £5.1m defender who produces like a midfielder - he is the best value player in the game right now. If you're looking for budget options, our bargain players tool highlights picks like this that free up funds elsewhere.

Verdict: Essential. The highest-value player in FPL at the moment.

We said hold last time and he has more than justified that with 13 points in GW34 - scoring once and assisting once in Forest's stunning 5-0 demolition of Sunderland. His form rating is an incredible 11.7, he has 13 goals and 3 assists this season, and Forest now head to Chelsea in GW35. His expected points for next week sit at 11.7 - the highest of any player mentioned in this briefing.

Verdict: Essential. If you don't own him, reconsider urgently.

Watkins managed just 2 points in GW34 despite playing 79 minutes, with no goal involvement. Villa now host Spurs in GW35 - a tricky fixture - and his upcoming schedule gets harder from there. With an expected points score of just 6.7 for GW35, the numbers don't justify his £8.8m price tag when cheaper, better-value options like Cherki and O'Reilly exist.

Verdict: Sell if you need the funds.

Guéhi has been superb this season - 12 clean sheets, 3 goals, and 4 assists - and his expected 8.2 points against Everton at home in GW35 are solid. There's no urgent reason to sell him. However, if you already own both Guéhi AND O'Reilly, you are very heavily invested in one defence. If you need to pick one, prioritise O'Reilly for the better expected points projection.

Verdict: Hold - but don't stack both Man City defenders unless your squad can handle it.

Nobody wants to drop Haaland permanently - and with 24 goals and 7 assists this season, his record speaks for itself. He faces Everton in GW35, which is a favourable fixture. However, his current form score sits at just 5.0 and he carries expected points of only 5.5 for next week, which feels underwhelming for a £14.5m asset. If you are wildcarding this week, there are arguments to restructure your budget. If you are not using a chip, hold.

Verdict: Hold for now - but review seriously if you are wildcarding.

Looking for edge over your mini-league rivals? These picks all sit well under 10% ownership and have compelling cases for GW35 and beyond. Browse our differential players tool for more low-ownership gems.

The standout differential of the week. Igor Jesus was absolutely sensational in GW34 - scoring once, assisting twice, keeping a clean sheet, and earning bonus points for a total of 14 points at just 2% ownership. He has 5 goals and 6 assists this season at a criminally low price of £5.9m. Forest travel to Chelsea in GW35 and if they carry this momentum, he is a huge differential weapon in the final weeks.

The ultra-low-ownership budget enabler. Wieffer carries 7.2 expected points for GW35 as Brighton travel to Newcastle. He has 6 clean sheets this season, 4 assists, and a form rating of 6.7. At under £5m, the downside risk is minimal and the upside potential is genuine. He frees up budget to spend in more attacking areas while still contributing meaningfully.

The Double Gameweek 36 planner. Crystal Palace have a Double Gameweek coming up in GW36, making their assets hugely attractive to bring in now. Canvot plays at the back, averages 4.1 points per game, and has 5 clean sheets to his name. He faces Bournemouth away in GW35 before that juicy double. Get him in cheap now and position yourself perfectly for GW36.

If you don't have a clear Forest asset leading your team, Cherki at Man City against Everton is your fallback captain with 8.2 expected points at home. Both are compelling options - Gibbs-White is the primary pick, Cherki the backup.

With Gameweek 36 Double Gameweeks looming - particularly for Crystal Palace - now is the time to position your squad to take full advantage. The Wildcard into Bench Boost strategy is being widely deployed this week. Whatever you decide, make absolutely sure every player in your squad has a GW35 fixture before the Friday 1st May 5:30pm deadline. Check our fixture difficulty ratings to plan your squad structure around the remaining weeks.