Ahead of gameweek 2, I pick my top transfer targets with a look at this week’s fixture and their upcoming games.
The targets:
Antonee Robinson
Fulham’s next 5 fixtures are excellent. Robinson is an attacking full-back so could be poised to get some decent attacking returns and at £4.5m there’s not a better player at that price point.
Fulham have strengthened well this year and put up a decent showing against Man United in the first game. I think there’s more to come and Robinson is likely to be heavily involved.
Image source: nytimes
Jeremy Doku
At £6.5m and with Savinho injured he could be a cheap route into Man City’s midfield and his game time is currently more assured. He’s a shorter term option due to the overall depth of the City squad – Savinho probably isn’t out very long and the versatility of Foden and Bernardo Silva could be a threat to his minutes.
Fixtures are great and City go into every game as favourites.
Image source: versus.uk.com
Diogo Jota
This might feel a bit obvious given his popularity ahead of gameweek 1 and the number of transfers in since causing a price rise to £7.6m. The reason for the scramble to bring him in is his excellent goal record and as a relatively affordable midfielder playing upfront in one of the top teams it makes sense.
Liverpool’s fixtures are pretty good too. My only concern is his injury record and whether he’ll start losing minutes to Nunez and Gakpo at any point.
Image source: liverpooloffside
Kai Havertz
Similar to Jota but more expensive at £8.1m (also seen a price rice due to popularity) Havertz looks to have the striker position locked in at Arsenal. For a player who is viewed as a versatile midfielder/attacker, his touch map is surprisingly similar to a traditional number 9.
Some concerns over Gabriel Jesus taking minutes off him but undoubtedly a top option to have in your team for the weeks ahead.
Image source: BBC Sport
Muniz
If you don’t have the money to get the likes of Havertz then a bargain option is Muniz of Fulham. For the same reasons as Robinson, the fixtures are great and Muniz should get plenty of game time upfront.
Image source: sportinglife
What to do about Watkins:
A lot of managers have taken Watkins out. I think this is kneejerk and while I appreciate he’s locking up £9m and Villa have Arsenal this week, I just don’t think it’s worth the transfer. He’s nailed on and their fixtures turn for the better after gameweek 2. It’s likely he’ll punish the owners who were too hasty and got rid this week.
Image source: marca
Trippier looks likely to be leaving Newcastle having fallen down the pecking order. He’s unlikely to feature this week and until his future is resolved he’s an easy sell. £6m is far too much to leave not scoring any points and there’s plenty of alternatives at that price – Gvardiol, Van Dijk, Porro to name a few. Or release some funds with a switch to Robinson which could help for future weeks and an upgrade elsewhere.
Palmer has been ditched by a good number of managers but even if Chelsea are in some disarray and competition for places is off the charts, it looks like he’ll still be a mainstay in the team. Fixtures are good and normally this would be a time to target Chelsea players if it wasn’t for the uncertainty over who will make the team. This isn’t an issue with Palmer so he’s an easy hold and could easily become a player target in a week or two.
Pedro Porro has been yellow flagged with a 75% chance of playing. It’s a knock rather than a specific injury which bodes well. I’d hold fire until as late as possible before making a transfer. Even saying that, I would be inclined to hold him – for the sake of keeping a transfer and he’ll likely be back next week, unless we get other news.
I’m keeping an eye on Mitoma. He’s a potential transfer in for game week 4. Fixtures are mixed with quite a few tough ones in but also some really good ones. At £6.5m I can see him being a good rotation option in midfield but I’m keeping my powder dry and seeing how Brighton go for a couple more games (even if they are tough ones against Man United and Arsenal).
Bryan Mbeumo is another to keep an eye on. With Ivan Toney looking like he’ll leave this given Mbeumo some serious upside. Namely, penalties. But more than that he will be even more central to Brentford’s attack. There’s some downside in that Brentford will be weaker for Toney’s absence and this could reduce Mbeumo’s potential to score points. Again, tough fixtures so it’s unlikely I’d bring him in ahead of gameweek 6 unless he enables some other moves at the same time.
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