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GW1Published: 17 August 2026

Best FPL Transfers GW1: Who to Buy and Sell

Key Players

1
Gabriel
Arsenal · DEF
7.2
xP
2
Haaland
Man City · FWD
7.0
xP
3
Bruno G.
Arsenal · MID
5.8
xP

Best FPL Transfers GW1: Who to Buy and Sell

Top buys

Erling Haaland (£15.5m, 7.0 xP) - The essential captain option hosts Bournemouth at the Etihad. At 71.7% ownership, not having him is a differential you can't afford. Replace any premium forward under-performing in pre-season or downgrade elsewhere to accommodate the Norwegian machine. Gabriel (£8.0m, 7.2 xP) - Arsenal's defensive rock tops the expected points chart with a home fixture against Coventry City (FDR 2). His 17.6% clean sheet probability combined with aerial threat makes him the premium defender to own. Swap out any £8.0m defender without Arsenal's favorable opening fixtures. Bruno Guimarães (£7.0m, 5.8 xP) - An under-owned gem at just 9.5% selection, Bruno G. offers excellent value at £0.83 points per million. Arsenal's fixture against Coventry provides attacking potential, making him ideal to replace any mid-priced midfielder with tougher GW1 opponents.

Hold or sell

Hold: Bukayo Saka (£9.5m, 5.7 xP) - Despite modest expected points for his price, Saka faces Coventry at home (FDR 2) and remains Arsenal's primary attacking outlet. His 10.0% ownership suggests he's reasonably priced for the season ahead. Keep the faith through GW1. Sell: Premium defenders priced £8.0m+ without top-six affiliations - With Gabriel offering 7.2 xP at £8.0m for Arsenal, any similarly priced defender facing tougher opposition should be moved on. Use those funds to strengthen your midfield or complete the Haaland upgrade.

Best budget move

Michael Keane (£5.0m, 5.8 xP) - The ultimate enabler defender boasts incredible 1.16 points per million value. His 60% clean sheet probability against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park is exceptional for a £5.0m option. Just 1.7% owned, Keane frees up £3.0m compared to Gabriel while delivering similar GW1 expected points. Deploy those savings on Haaland or premium midfielders who'll haul across the season. Perfect for managers needing to balance their budget without sacrificing GW1 points.

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