The Scout's Transfer Radar for Gameweek 25 in the Fantasy Premier League is shining brightly on four players, promising significant benefits for managers looking to outmaneuver their competition as the deadline looms this Friday at 18:30 GMT.
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) - £7.6m
In January, West Ham United welcomed new signings Taty Castellanos (£5.5m) and Pablo Felipe (£5.5m), and their impact on the team’s attacking capabilities has been remarkable. Since both players joined the starting lineup, the Hammers have netted seven goals across three Premier League matches.
Although neither Castellanos nor Felipe has found the back of the net yet, their presence has reignited the form of wingers Crysencio Summerville (£5.5m) and Bowen, who have each contributed three attacking returns in the last three Gameweeks.
Moreover, Bowen has recently taken on the role of first-choice penalty taker following Lucas Paqueta's departure, successfully converting a penalty in Gameweek 23. Looking ahead, Bowen’s upcoming fixtures include a matchup against some of the league's weakest defenses, starting with a trip to Burnley this weekend.
Defensive Struggles of Upcoming Opponents:
| Team(s)* | Goals Conceded |
|---------------------|-----------------|
| West Ham | 48 |
| Burnley | 47 |
| Wolves | 45 |
| Bournemouth | 43 |
| Leeds | 42 |
| Manchester United | 36 |
| Fulham, Nottingham Forest | 35 |
| Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs | 33 |
*Upcoming opponents in bold
Declan Rice (Arsenal) - £7.5m
Arsenal has officially confirmed that they will compete in two matches during Gameweek 26, thanks to their advancement to the EFL Cup final, making it a lucrative "Double Gameweek" for the Gunners.
In Fantasy terms, a Double Gameweek means players from this club have the chance to earn points in two separate matches over the same round of fixtures, making them even more appealing to managers.
Arsenal's upcoming schedule includes several favorable matchups, with their next seven fixtures listed below, showcasing both home and away games:
| GW | Opponent | Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR)* |
|----|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| 25 | Sunderland (H) | 2 |
| 26 | Brentford (A), Wolves (A) | 3, 2 |
| 27 | Spurs (A) | 3 |
| 28 | Chelsea (H) | 3 |
| 29 | Brighton (A) | 3 |
| 30 | Everton (H) | 2 |
*1 = easiest fixture, 5 = hardest fixture
Including the Double Gameweek, Arsenal will play four of their next six matches away from home, which makes Rice an appealing choice for Fantasy managers. No player has accumulated more Fantasy points in away games this season than Rice, who has amassed 81 points.
Seven out of eight matches where he earned defensive contribution points, as well as three of his four double-digit scores, occurred while playing on the road. Although his recent contributions have slightly tapered off, he created 12 chances over the past four Gameweeks—only Bruno Fernandes (£9.6m) has surpassed this figure—indicating he's been somewhat unfortunate not to score more points. With injury concerns surrounding other Arsenal options like Bukayo Saka (£9.9m) and Martin Odegaard (£7.8m) leading up to Gameweek 25, Rice stands out as the prime midfield candidate from Arsenal.
Marcos Senesi (AFC Bournemouth) - £4.8m
Bournemouth is looking to capitalize on their clean sheet performance in Gameweek 24 against Wolverhampton as they head into a series of matches that appear favorable. Below are their next seven fixtures, indicating the challenges they may face:
| GW | Opponent | Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR)* |
|----|-----------------|----------------------------------|
| 25 | Aston Villa (H) | 3 |
| 26 | Everton (A) | 3 |
| 27 | West Ham (A) | 2 |
| 28 | Sunderland (H) | 2 |
| 29 | Brentford (H) | 3 |
| 30 | Burnley (A) | 2 |
| 31 | Manchester United (H) | 3 |
*1 = easiest fixture, 5 = hardest fixture
Senesi provides an intriguing opportunity for defensive returns. At home, Bournemouth ranks impressively second for the lowest Expected Goals Against (xGA) at 9.18, suggesting that they may secure additional clean sheets at the Vitality Stadium. However, their away performances reveal a stark contrast, as they sit near the bottom of the league for the same statistic.
Nonetheless, Senesi has consistently earned defensive contribution points on the road, achieving this feat in all 12 of his away starts this season, tallying 24 points—equivalent to six clean sheets. Additionally, the Argentine center-back currently holds the second position among all defenders for Expected Goal Involvement (xGI) this season, with a score of 4.67.
Mateus Mane (Wolves) - £4.6m
Wolverhampton Wanderers, who will also feature in two matches during Gameweek 26, may not attract significant interest from Fantasy managers, especially considering one of those games pits them against league leaders Arsenal. However, Mane represents an affordable short-term option for those seeking to include Wolves players in their squad.
For Fantasy managers employing a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, Mane can be benched starting from Gameweek 27 onward if necessary. As a low-cost third forward, he allows flexibility in budget allocation for other positions.
Mane has been a regular starter in Rob Edwards' lineup for seven consecutive matches, during which he has registered more shots (20) than any teammate. It's important to note that 80% of these attempts were from outside the box, resulting in lower-quality chances. Nevertheless, both of his goals during this period originated from long-range efforts, showcasing his ability to strike accurately from distance. Additionally, since Gameweek 18, Mane has created two big chances—the highest total on the team.
Fantasy managers might even consider deploying Mane in their lineup this weekend, as Chelsea, their opponents, have managed only one clean sheet in their last eight league games, placing them 17th in terms of xGA during that span.
