Spot the Differential – Gameweek 4

With the clock ticking towards this morning’s Gameweek 4 deadline, we’re hoping to provide Fantasy managers with some food for thought with three intriguing differential options.

Wilfried Bony

It’s fair to say after only scoring six goals in 36 league appearances for City over the last 18 months, Wilfried Bony was in need of a change of scenery in order to find first-team football.

His season-long loan move to Stoke may prove to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business done on deadline day, with the Potters in urgent need of a goalscorer, having only scored twice so far this term.

The Ivorian proved himself in English football during his spell at Swansea, where he scored 26 times and registered six assists in 54 league outings.

Bony, who’s seen his price fall to 7.3 in FPL, thrived in a Swansea team that played to his strengths, and with the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan and Xherdan Shaqiri (once fit) creating chances for the powerful striker, the move to the Bet365 Stadium looks perfectly suited to bringing the best out of the 27-year-old forward.

Bony may well be short of match fitness given he’d not featured under Pep Guardiola this season, but for those who are looking for a differential with huge upside, the Stoke front man should certainly be on your radar, given his ownership in FPL is currently just 1.7%, and the fact the Potters are about to embark on a very favourable run of fixtures.

He looks set to come straight into the starting XI against Tottenham this afternoon, with Mame Biram Diouf a major doubt due to a hamstring injury, while Peter Crouch failed to take his chance in the 1-0 defeat to Everton last time out.

Adnan Januzaj

Reunited with former Man United boss David Moyes at Sunderland, Adnan Januzaj has played every minute of the Black Cats’ last two league matches, and now looks even more assured of a regular starting place following the news that Fabio Borini will be out for the next few months with a groin injury.

Having shown flashes of the form over the last few weeks which saw him burst onto the scene in 2013/14, scoring four goals and providing five assists in just 15 starts, the Belgian could be poised to breakout in Monday night’s home encounter with Everton.

The 5.5-priced midfielder, who is owned by just 1.3% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bosses, has registered four shots from inside the box so far this season, the same number as Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, and has also created five chances, more than any other Sunderland player.

Bearing in mind he was also a substitute in the opening day 2-1 defeat to Man City, it’s fair to say those are encouraging numbers given his budget price tag. With the possibility of goals and assists (he also has a share of corners) appearing on the cards, it appears the Man United loanee is worthy of our consideration as a cheap fourth or fifth midfield option.

A home encounter with Everton is the first of three Stadium of Light encounters in the next four Gameweeks, with Crystal Palace and West Brom also set to pay visit.

Kelechi Iheanacho

With Sergio Aguero suspended for today’s Manchester derby, all eyes will be on Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet to see who starts in attack.

Kelechi Iheanacho is the only other recognised striker in the Man City squad, so the Nigerian looks to be in the driving seat to lead the line at Old Trafford, although Guardiola could choose to use one of Nolito, Raheem Sterling or Leroy Sane in the “false nine” role.

The Nigerian international got on the scoresheet during the international break in the 1-0 victory over Tanzania and enjoyed an excellent end to last season, scoring five goals and adding an assist over the final four Gameweeks.

Encouragingly, his average of 105.9 minutes per strike last term was bettered only by Aguero amongst all forwards.

Iheanacho has only played 19 minutes of Premier League action this season, but still managed to make an impact by registering an assist in the 4-1 win at Stoke.

Available at just 6.9 in FPL, and currently sitting in just 1.7% of FPL squads, he may appeal to those keen on a short-term punt, with a home clash against Bournemouth to follow next weekend.