Here we are folks, with only five weeks left of the season, the final countdown is upon us. The business end of the season is well and truly underway, and these are the weeks where overall ranks and mini-leagues can be won or lost. Nailing your transfers from here on out is a must for a strong finish. Keeping up with the latest transfers trends is something that can help you get over these last few hurdles of this long and arduous season. This is what we’re here to do in this FPL GW34 article, keep you informed with the latest transfers trends ahead of the deadline.
This week we can see the transfer trends show people are targeting players from Leicester, Spurs, Leeds & WBA, while offloading players from Man City, West Ham, Man Utd, Liverpool & Leeds – although this is due to injury.
Now, as always, it’s highly recommended to wait until as close as possible to the deadline, before making any transfers. This week that rule has even more importance as we may find out details about the possibility of DGW35. Fixture planning guru, Ben Crellin, tweeted on Apr 21st that he’s about 70% sure this could be the schedule for DGW35.
While Ben also gave some more possible schedules in another tweet, so keep these in mind.
FPL Transfers Gameweek 34 Deadline – Friday 30th April at 18:30 BST
This Transfer Trends series focuses on analyzing a popular or interesting transfer combination within the topmost transferred IN and OUT players.
Top transfers in and out ahead of FPL GW34
In the forward position, the most popular purchase has been Iheanacho with 141k transfers in after yet another scintillating performance in GW33. After the Spurs blank in GW33, Kane is the only other forward in the top 5 transfers in, with 102k eager buyers jumping back on the England captain. The two main players that Iheanacho is being purchased at the expense of are; Watkins – 60k sales (25% of Iheanacho transfers), and Bamford – 53k sales (21% of Iheanacho transfers).
In the midfield position, the most popular moves are Son with 113k buys, and Pereira with 58k buys. The two main players that Son is being purchased at the expense of, are; Fernandes – 88k sales (50% of Son transfers), and Jota – 70k sales (12% of Son transfers).
This week, our focus will be on Fernandes (£11.5m) making way for Son (£9.5m) with the vast majority of his sellers switching to the South Korean (48% of Fernandes sellers). The other main switch we can see Fernandes sellers making, is a move to Salah, with 20% of sellers doing so ahead of their clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Further Read: The Best FPL Forwards for the final stretch: Whom to own and why?
Son v Fernandes Comparison (Gameweek 28-33)
We can see both a comparison of their stats over the last six Gameweeks in the Hub’s Comparison Tool screenshots below and over the course of the full season too (please note Spurs didn’t play in GW33, but doubled in GW32).
Looking at the comparison below, the last six Gameweeks shows that Fernandes has been outperforming Son in a variety of metrics including Big Chances, Shots on Target, Shots, Key Passes and BCC. These metrics are all well and good, but the main thing to note, is that within this period, Son outperformed Fernandes in the key metric – Points, 20 v 15. He did this while playing one game less also, as he didn’t feature in GW29.
Further Read: FPL GW 34 – Chip Strategy, Tips, and Team Reveal | FPLNima
Son v Fernandes Comparison Gameweeks 1-33
Over the course of the full season, the comparison of the underlying statistics for both players continue to show that Fernandes has outperformed Son in the same metrics including Shots in the Box, Shots on Target, Shots, Key Passes and BCC. The noticeable difference between his stats over the full season v the last 6 Gameweeks, is that Fernandes has outperformed Son in Goals, Assists and Points. With Fernandes only registering 1 goal and 1 assist in his last 8 matches however, people’s minds have started to think maybe the grass is greener on the other side – the side of non-Bruno owners.
Deep Dive on Son & Fernandes ahead of FPL GW34
Heung in-Son (£9.5m) – Spurs
Fixtures: Sheffield United (H), Leeds (a), Wolves (H), Aston Villa (H), Leicester (a)
Ownership: 45.5%
With Mourinho, a distant memory to many a Spurs fan, everybody associated with the club will be hoping for the “new manager bounce” under Ryan Mason. So far, Mason has been in charge for 2 matches – a 2-1 win over Southampton in GW32 and the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday against Man City. We haven’t really seen much of a “new manager bounce” yet, but Son did get the winner against Southampton for a 10 point return, so everybody will be hoping he can kick on in GW34 with a tasty fixture at home against relegated Sheffield United.
Underlying stats this season:
- 2677 mins (32 appearances/ 31 starts)
- 110 touches in the penalty box
- 60 shots (31 on target)
- 39 shots inside the box
- 22 big chances
- 60 chances created (13 big chances created)
- 15 goals (12.29 xG)
- 9 assists (8.90 xA)
Spurs are first in the Hub’s fixture ticker over the remaining 5 Gameweeks. Leicester will be their toughest opponent over their remaining games, but this comes on the final game of the season where Leicester might have already secured a Top 4 finish.
As mentioned, Spurs host Sheffield United in GW34 and this could be the driving force for buyers rushing to buy Son this week. In the last 6 Gameweeks, Sheffield United are 2nd for Goals Conceded (11), Shots Conceded (83), and Shots Conceded in the Box (56) – while the clubs who have conceded more, have played an extra game. In the same timeframe, Sheffield United have conceded the most Big Chances (18) out of all teams.
Son has been the number two man (behind Kane) for Spurs all season, and this is no different in the last 6 Gameweeks. Son comes in behind Kane for Goals (2), Shots (9), Shots on Target (4), Shots in the Box (7), and Big Chances (2). From an attacking point of view, Spurs have had 62 shots with 20 on target in the last 6 Gameweeks, which puts them at the mid to lower end, however they’re joint 3rd for goals scored (10) in this period. With arguably the most attractive fixture in GW34 (making Son a captain candidate) plus strong fixtures in the next 4, Son could prove to be an astute transfer.
Further Read: Buy, Hold, Sell Player Analysis Ahead of FPL GW34
Predicted Points and Opta Stats
The Predicted Points Tool is projecting 6.2 points for Son in GW34 with only Kane predicted to score more, and 25.6 points across his remaining fixtures.
Transfer rating
Son is a great option that could exploit Sheffield United’s defensive frailties this week, while also being a strong candidate for captain. With the favourable fixtures and the possible “new manager bounce” Son can provide great value between now and the end of the season.
Bruno Fernandes (£11.5m) – Manchester United
Fixtures: Liverpool (H), Aston Villa (a), Leicester (H), Fulham (H), Wolves (a)
Ownership: 56%
The highest points scorer in the game (221), Fernandes has been the mainstay in many managers teams this season. With only 2 returns in his last 8 matches, managers have been wondering if now is the time to move away from Fernandes, however he’s not the leading points scorer for no reason.
Underlying stats this season:
- 2,832 mins (33 appearances / 32 starts)
- 107 touches in the penalty box
- 104 shots (45 on target)
- 40 shots inside the box
- 19 big chances
- 81 chances created (17 big chances created)
- 16 goals (16.01 xG)
- 12 assist (11.50 xA)
GW34 throws up a tricky fixture for Man United, when Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday. Traditionally a Man United v Liverpool match tends to be a tight affair, with a nil all draw at Anfield in January, and a 1-1 draw in at Old Trafford last season. In the last 6 Gameweeks, Liverpool have been strong defensively, with only 3 goals conceded – the same as Man United in this timeframe, a league best. Liverpool have faced 41 shots in this period, where Man United have faced 40 shots – 4th & 3rd best in the league respectively. Two teams with strong defensive numbers over the last 6, could live up to tradition with another tight affair on Sunday.
Looking past GW34, the big thing to note for Fernandes is the possible double in GW35, where he would be away to Aston Villa and home to Leicester. Only a handful of teams could have a double, so Fernandes will be a top captaincy candidate if he gets the double.
His goals and assists have dried up of late, but over the last 6 Gameweeks, his underlying stats show that he’s still keeping very busy. He’s 3rd for midfielders for Shots (18), 4th for Shots on Target (8), and 2nd for Key Passes (12). With numbers like this, is it just a matter of time before he starts to return again? The one thing we can never rule out with Fernandes is penalties, with 50% (8) of his goals (16) coming from the penalty spot this season – the most in the league.
Predicted Points and Opta Stats
The Predicted Points Tool is projecting 4.3 points for Fernandes in GW34 vs Liverpool but with the prospect of a double in GW35, he’s projected to score 10points here, before a possible BGW in 36. These are all things that need to be taken into consideration.
Transfer rating
Many managers have owned Fernandes for a vast majority of the season, and have built up strong value in the midfield maestro. If you’re getting rid of him this week, you will need to think about how to bring him back in for DGW35.
He has the tricky fixture in GW34 against Liverpool, but you can expect his EO to be very high in GW35. If DGW35 goes ahead, and we find this out before GW34 deadline, you will need to think long and hard before selling Fernandes.
l look forward to hearing your thoughts and discussing your transfers in the lead up to the Gameweek 34 deadline at 18:30 BST on Friday 30th April.
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FPL GW34 Captaincy poll
[Total_Soft_Poll id=”3″]
Do vote in this week’s allaboutfpl captaincy poll. The same will be available in the captaincy analysis and metrics blog written by AK. In GW33, Iheanacho and Salah topped the metric and they both returned, scoring 12 and 9 points. The metrics has a 100% record since debuting in GW29 and is absolutely free. Stay tuned for the same.
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Further reads from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW34:
The Best FPL Forwards for the final stretch: Whom to own and why?
Buy, Hold, Sell Player Analysis Ahead of FPL GW34
FPL GW 34 – Chip Strategy, Tips, and Team Reveal | FPLNima
FPL Tools Overview, Comparison, and Feature Analysis
All that you need to know about FPL cup
History Of Fantasy Football And Origin Of FPL
FPL History: Highest Scoring FPL Players Each Year Since The First FPL Season in 2002/03
FPL Tools guide for managers: Free and Paid
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What’s next from ALLABOUTFPL ahead of FPL GW34 Deadline?
Our team of good writers are working relentlessly as we strive to deliver good FPL good content. Stay tuned for our, Differential picks(<10% TSB), Captaincy metrics for FPL GW34, Teams and players to watch out for in FPL GW34 and Matchups blogs All the blogs should be out soon ahead of an early Friday night FPL GW 34 Deadline.
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