Transfer activity across FPL has been decisive this week, with managers aggressively moving funds out of underperforming premiums and into midfielders offering better value and reliability.
According to the Transfer Analytics tool, one name dominates the market: Bruno Fernandes.
The data shows a clear trend among top managers, with the following combinations leading the way:
The top three moves involve Fernandes, underlining how strongly managers are consolidating around him as a midfield cornerstone going into Gameweek 23.
Fernandes is the most in-demand player this week, and the numbers explain why.
Across his last two matches, he has delivered 17 FPL points, registering two assists, four bonus points and two defensive contribution points, all while continuing to operate as Manchester United’s primary creator.
In that spell, he has created seven big chances — four more than any other player — and posted an xA of 3.05, more than double that of anyone else during the same period. Even by premium midfielder standards, those are elite figures.
His xFPL of 19.28 closely matches his actual returns, suggesting his output is sustainable rather than luck-driven. Factor in penalty duties and set-piece involvement, and it’s easy to see why managers are building around him.
An away trip to Arsenal in Gameweek 23 naturally caps expectations and has led some managers to delay the move by a week. However, favourable home fixtures against Fulham and Tottenham immediately after help justify the investment.
If Fernandes is the most popular entry point, Phil Foden is the most common exit.
The Transfer Analytics tool shows over 460,000 managers selling Foden, making him the most transferred-out player of the gameweek. Across his last three fixtures, he has managed just five points, failing to register a goal or an assist.
While his xFPL of 8.89 suggests a degree of underperformance, rotation concerns only compound the issue. There is growing uncertainty over his minutes, with some managers even expecting him to be benched against Wolves in Gameweek 23.
Even though Wolves visit the Etihad this week, confidence remains low. Possibly challenging away trips to Tottenham and Liverpool follow, and at £8.6m, many see the move to Bruno Fernandes as a clear upgrade in both underlying statistics and output.
Bukayo Saka features prominently among outgoing players, appearing in multiple high-volume transfer combinations.
While his eight points across three matches is underwhelming for a £10.1m asset, the bigger concern is his playing time. Saka has logged just 134 minutes during that period, with his reduced workload influenced by Arsenal’s congested schedule and the increased squad depth now available to Mikel Arteta compared to previous seasons.
As a result, managers are increasingly uncomfortable holding an expensive midfielder without guaranteed minutes or consistent premium-level returns. With Manchester United away next, followed by fixtures against Leeds and Sunderland, the run itself is acceptable — but ongoing uncertainty over Saka’s role looks to be the deciding factor for many.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Saka sales has been Declan Rice, who continues to reward investors with steady, all-round returns.
Rice has delivered 23 points across his last three matches, scoring two goals while also registering two clean sheets, two bonus points and two defensive contribution points. Defensively, he has been outstanding, with 217 defensive contributions — the sixth-highest among midfielders — and 18 bonus points, the second-highest in his position. Those numbers underline his ability to score well even without attacking returns.
Priced at £7.4m, Rice offers consistency, security of minutes and strong baseline output, making him an increasingly popular “set-and-forget” option during Arsenal’s stable fixture run.
If you’re considering downgrading Saka to Rice, we recently compared the pair in our FPL Gameweek 23: Who to Target? blog, assessing whether the move represents a worthwhile switch rather than a sideways one.
Another name gaining traction is Enzo Fernández, who offers an appealing mix of value and consistency.
He has returned 18 points across his last three matches, backed up by an impressive xFPL of 22.71, suggesting his output could have been even higher. Priced at just £6.5m, Enzo is emerging as a popular enabler for managers looking to restructure their squads.
With a favourable fixture run that includes Crystal Palace away, West Ham at home and Wolves away, he looks well placed to continue delivering steady returns.
Rounding out the major exits is Matheus Cunha, who appears in several high-volume transfer combinations.
While Cunha has returned 15 points across three matches, his xFPL of 11.72 points to slightly inflated returns. More importantly, his upcoming schedule is problematic, starting with Arsenal away, where his projected score sits at just 2.4 points.
At £8.0m, managers appear increasingly willing to redistribute his funds into more reliable midfield options with stronger medium-term prospects.
The Transfer Analytics tool paints a clear picture ahead of Gameweek 23:
🔁 managers are moving money out of uncertain premiums and
📊 doubling down on midfielders offering value, consistency and set-piece involvement.
Fernandes sits firmly at the centre of this shift — and unless his role or output changes, it’s a trend that looks set to continue in coming Gameweeks.
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