Key Midfield Differentials To Consider

There has been a lot of fluctuation in terms of transfers in Fantasy Premier League at present and with blank Game weeks imminent, I will be recommending four differentials in midfield who should contribute positively to your points tally’ over the next five weeks.

Many players immune from the blank games weeks are already topping the transfers in table, so if you are looking to recruit one them I would strongly advise you to jump on the bandwagon early to avoid further price rises.

The four players featured in this article have low ownership of no more than 15% and will not miss Gameweek 26 or Gameweek 28, when a number of teams miss out due to cup commitments.

GYLFI SIGURDSSON

Price: 7.4

Ownership: 9.5%

Team: Swansea

Next five fixtures: LEI, che, BUR, hul, bou

Gylfi Sigurdsson has everything you want in a player. The creative midfielder not only takes corner kicks and free kicks for Swansea but also has penalties in his locker. His appeal has been strengthened even further due to the four goals he has acquired from open play this season, thus shaping him into an all round Fantasy Football asset.

Since the arrival of the new Swansea manager Paul Clement in Gameweek 21, the Icelandic schemer has really stepped up his form, with three goals in as many games, which is more than he scored in the eight Gameweeks prior to the former Derby boss’s arrival. These statistics show us that this set piece specialist is clearly thriving under the new regime.

Another benefit of Sigurdsson is his fixtures.

This weekend he will face a Leicester back-line that has leaked 10 goals in their previous four encounters and has failed to score since Gameweek 19. This not only boosts his goal and assist potential but also gives him a good chance of claiming a clean sheet bonus.

Looking further ahead to matches, Swansea face relatively easy opponents, bar Chelsea.

It is also worth noting that his goals and assists have been balanced almost equally over home and away matches so he should have no problem struggling for returns when he faces opponents away from home.

Eight goals and seven assists have propelled him up to fifth in the overall rankings amongst midfielders going into Gameweek 25, as he sits just nine points behind fourth placed Christian Eriksen.

With a perfect storm of form and fixtures on his side, can you really afford not to obtain the services of this ice cool Fantasy asset?

ROBERT SNODGRASS

Price: 5.8

Ownership: 11.0%

Team: West Ham

Next five fixtures: WBR, wat, CHE, bou, LEI

As part of a West Ham unit that is big on pumping cross field balls onto the head of big man Andy Carroll, this former Hull player fits the bill perfectly.

Having already netted seven times while with the Tigers this season, the Scot is another set piece specialist that also has goals in his locker. Yes he will be deprived of penalties for his new club, with Mark Noble, Carroll and Lanzini likely to be ahead of him, but he is likely to remain on corners and free kicks. With some stunning goals from seat pieces under his belt already this season, he is certainly a threat when faced with a dead ball.

His assist in the away win at Southampton last weekend proved to be a mere continuation of the excellent Hull form, and with 90 minutes secured in that game, Snodgrass doesn’t look a risk when it comes to rotation.

Bonus points are another benefit of leaping aboard a Snodgrass bandwagon. The Scottish international has not only received maximum bonus returns on four occasions this campaign, but also stands fourth in terms of overall bonus points’ received by midfielders in FPL, behind Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez.

Furthermore, Snodgrass has returned five double figure hauls since the start of the season and with a good set of fixtures to come, the attacking midfielder is a strong option vying for attention.

NACER CHADLI

Price: 6.0

Ownership: 1.3%

Team: West Brom

Next five fixtures: wha, BOU, CPA, eve, ARS

Nacer Chadli looked like a lost cause between Gameweeks 9 and 21 but with a pair of assists in his last three, he should be back on your FPL watch list.

Let us not forget his Gameweek 5 masterclass against West Ham, where he struck 21 points, with two goals and as many assists. Could lightning strike twice this weekend when he drops by the London Stadium.

With all the eyes on preferred Baggies’ midfielder Matt Phillips at the moment, Chadli could prove to be the more effective of the two as we enter the next five Gameweeks. After all, he’s certainly outscored Phillips for points in recent weeks.

Spot kicks are a good trait to have and the Belgian took one of them earlier in the season and should remain on them, giving him an increased chance of finding the net.

Four goals, four assists and a decent run of fixtures puts Nacer Chadli firmly in contention.

JOSH KING

Price: 5.3

Ownership: 1.2%

Team: Bournemouth

Next five fixtures: MCI, wbr, mun, WHA, SWA

A Josh King brace in the defeat at Everton was the only real positive Cherries’ boss Eddie Howe could’ve taken from that 6-3 thrashing.

With that being said, Bournemouth’s defence certainly isn’t worth investing in for Fantasy Premier League managers, however, Josh King’s double has rewarded him with over 1800 transfers-in this week.

In addition, with the Gameweek 24 absence of the higher owned Cherries’ asset Junior Stanislas, for a reason which doesn’t appear to be injury related, King is certainly worth monitoring.

Surprisingly, the Norwegian is Bournemouth’s all time leading goal scorer in the Premier League, and with more goals than any of his team mates’ this season – besides Callum Wilson who is currently injured . King looks the go-to option if you are after a Cherry.

He currently has six goals for the season as well as an assist, which is just two assists away from meeting the returns he produced last season. Additionally, he is on a good vein of form, having tucked away three in his last three, including the Goodison brace.

One downside of transferring in the Norwegian is due to his fixtures. Bournemouth face both Manchester clubs in the space of their next three games, making returns look less prosperous.

In the two fixtures after the Man.Utd game however, Bournemouth are treated to two home encounters with West Ham and Swansea, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

King is probably the worst option here in terms of fixtures, but he is the cheapest differential in the article and also boasts the lowest ownership, so if you are willing to gamble then he could prove a very influential asset in your midfield in the weeks to come.