Fantasy Premier League managers are heavily buying Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo and Chelsea midfielder Morgan Rogers ahead of Gameweek 4, as early-season statistics highlight major tactical choices across top-flight midfields before Saturday’s 13:30 BST deadline.
Managers across the competition have rushed to secure Gakpo and Rogers, making them the two most-bought players for the upcoming round with over 555,000 and 443,000 incoming transfers respectively. That surge comes down to reliability. Both players stand out as the only midfielders or forwards in the game to register an attacking return in every single one of the opening three Gameweeks.
Yet that rush masks mounting complications. Gakpo heads into the weekend as an injury doubt after missing Liverpool’s midweek fixture in the UEFA Champions League. Despite that fitness cloud, he sits as the top-scoring player in the entire game following a return of one goal and three assists for 28 total points, according to league data ahead of the home fixture against Fulham.
Premium Midfielders Compete with Cheaper Value Options
Only seven points separate the top 10 midfielders on the leaderboard.
Heavy hitters command substantial funds. The three most expensive options—Bruno Fernandes at £12.0m, Bukayo Saka at £9.5m, and Cole Palmer at £9.6m—have delivered 27, 22, and 21 points respectively.
- Rayan Cherki (£7.8m), Martin Odegaard (£6.6m), and Bryan Mbeumo (£7.9m) match premium output at a fraction of the cost.
- Bournemouth pair Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier (both priced at £6.0m) lead the mid-tier value returns alongside Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt (£5.0m).
Mbeumo and Palmer Lead Midfield Goal Metrics
Underneath raw points, underlying metrics show where true goal potential lies. Manchester United’s Mbeumo dominates the midfield data with four big chances—situations where a player is expected to score—while tying Palmer for the most shots in the box with nine apiece.
Comparing teammates clarifies squad strategy. At Manchester United, Mbeumo matches Fernandes’ output while costing £4.1m less. At Chelsea, Palmer doubles Rogers for shots inside the area (nine to four) and takes penalties, making him the stronger choice for managers who can absorb his price.
Janelt and Stach Lead Defensive Contribution Points
Defensive contribution points add another layer for budget managers. Six players share the lead in this metric with four points each across the first three Gameweeks, including Brentford’s Janelt and Leeds United’s Anton Stach (£6.0m), who both handle set-piece duties for their sides.
Additional defensive contribution figures show tactical variety across clubs. Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka (£5.5m) and Mamadou Sangare (£5.7m) also feature prominently in club lineups, with Sangare having been substituted at half-time in his previous weekend fixture. Vitaly Janelt has also scored twice and handles a share of corner duties for Brentford, offering an affordable alternative to his team-mate Sangare.
Squad structure dictates the final selection across all price brackets. Managers weighing different combinations find stark contrasts in both spending and output. A pairing of Bruno Fernandes and Morgan Rogers yields 46 points and seven goal involvements for a combined price of £19.6m, accompanied by 10 total shots in the box. For managers looking deeper into the player pool, sub-£6.5m options like Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Marcus Tavernier (both £6.0m) provide additional depth alongside Vitaly Janelt (£5.0m), who serves as an ideal fifth midfielder to hold on the bench.
