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Who are the best Romelu Lukaku replacements in FPL?

Romelu Lukaku (£11.7m) is poised to miss Gameweek 9 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) after injuring his ankle in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League win over Malmo.

Thomas Tuchel may give us a more exact prognosis on the Belgian’s fitness in Friday’s pre-match press conference but the premium FPL forward is seemingly set to sit out Saturday’s home fixture against Norwich City at the very least, with the Chelsea boss saying Lukaku would miss “some games”.

Over three million Fantasy bosses owned the Belgium international after Gameweek 8 but the mass exodus has begun, with around 400,000 of those having already ditched him at the time of writing.

So who are the best replacements for the injured Lukaku in FPL?

We take a look at the options available to Fantasy managers in the article below.

All our stats and graphics are taken from our Premium Members Area, where there is currently a seven-day free trial on offer.

BEST LUKAKU REPLACEMENTS: PREMIUM FORWARDS

JAMIE VARDY

Vardy on target again as Man Utd's defensive issues continue in Gameweek 8 2

Top among FPL forwards for transfers in ahead of Gameweek 9, Jamie Vardy (£10.6m) is the go-to Lukaku replacement for many Fantasy managers.

It’s not so much the immediate fixtures – Brentford (a), Arsenal (h), Leeds (a) and Chelsea (h) is a mixed bag over the next four Gameweeks – as the form, with Vardy now the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer after scoring on five occasions in his last four appearances.

Some of us may have wanted to wait for Gameweek 13 and a ticker-topping four-game stretch for Leicester City but moving for Vardy now at least saves a transfer further down the line, and opposition difficulty doesn’t seem to be much of a barrier to the veteran hitman anyway: last season, for example, he bagged 10 goals and assists combined in 12 fixtures against the ‘big six’ sides.

It’s true that 50% of his attacking returns this season have come against Norwich City and Burnley, two of the weakest defences in the division.

And the return to the starting XI of Kelechi Iheanacho (£7.0m) is also worth monitoring, as the Nigerian was the bigger goal threat of the two when Brendan Rodgers paired them up top towards the final third of last season.

Vardy hasn’t been adversely affected so far, with totals of six shots and five attempts in the box in the last two Gameweeks in keeping with his output in 2021/22 before that, and it has been Iheanacho who has been playing slightly wider and deeper.

Above: Touch heatmaps for Vardy (left) and Iheanacho (right) over the last two Gameweeks

One word of caution for medium-term holders of Vardy is that the 34-year-old striker is currently enjoying midweek breathers in the UEFA Europa League to aid with his recovery between league games. More Premier League matches replace those European nights throughout November and December, with nine top-flight games to contest in the space of 35 days from Gameweeks 13-21. The Leicester striker may not escape a benching or two over that period, then, but the same could be argued for huge swathes of the FPL players in our teams.

HARRY KANE

Kane and Wilson enter FPL differential conversation ahead of Gameweek 9

The August curse extended to mid-October this year, with Harry Kane (£12.1m) only opening his Premier League account in last week’s win over Newcastle United.

As is the case with Vardy, it’s not until next month that Spurs’ fixtures really leap off the page – a four-match period from Gameweeks 12-15 looking like the ideal time to pounce on the Lilywhites.

Kane’s extra cost is the main deterrent considering that Vardy and an alternative route into the Spurs attack, Son Heung-min (£10.1m), can be snapped up for some £1.5m-£2.0m less.

Kane’s underlying stats have really stepped up a gear over the last four Gameweeks, as he’s joint-top among FPL forwards for shots alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.5m) and Vardy.

While plenty of those efforts are coming from distance, the typically dead-eyed Kane has still had more shots on target than any of his positional rivals – and the same number of big chances as Ronaldo.

Still, Son is outgunning Kane for big chances, shots in the box and expected goal involvement (xGI) even over this four-match period, so justifying that extra £2.0m outlay if it’s a ‘one or the other’ dilemma is not easy.

THE OTHERS

Cristiano Ronaldo dominates his premium peers stats-wise over the course of the season but some stiff fixtures, not to mention United’s iffy form and inability to carve out a single ‘big chance’ for him over the last three Gameweeks, leads us away from the veteran Portuguese.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£9.9m) is arguably the pick of the rest from the premium pool. Having found the net in each of his last three appearances at the Emirates, the Gabon international and his Gunners teammates have four more very favourable home encounters against Aston Villa, Watford, Newcastle and Southampton between now and Gameweek 16.

Trips to Leicester and Manchester United needn’t be feared from a defensive perspective either, with those two hapless backlines on just one clean sheet apiece in 2021/22.

A lack of big chances this season (two, fewer than 17 other forwards) is the main downside and he’s having to rely on his historically strong goal conversion rate to maintain his output. A possible recall for Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) would also presumably see Aubameyang shunted to the left flank, as has happened many times before.

Gabriel Jesus (£8.6m) is being routinely overlooked by many of us, with the week-to-week rotation risk and a ‘reverse out of position’ tag cited as the main reasons. And yet, despite registering fewer minutes than 15 other FPL forwards, he is still third among players in his Fantasy position for points.

The no-shows and one-pointers will be as regular as the double-digit hauls, nevertheless still resulting in a decent points-per-match average (Jesus’s is currently 5.90). Strong benches will be needed to negotiate those rests, so with many of us taking punts on rotation risks such as Phil Foden (£8.0m), Reece James (£5.5m) and Ben Chilwell (£5.7m), the Man City man may be one gamble too many.

BEST LUKAKU REPLACEMENTS: MID-PRICE/BUDGET FORWARDS

IVAN TONEY

Toney off the mark as injuries and Covid impact Villa 4

Lukaku’s injury doesn’t just allow FPL managers to move sideways between premium forwards but downgrade to a mid-price or budget option in order to reallocate funds elsewhere, perhaps with a view to recruiting Son, Kevin De Bruyne (£11.9m) or the man who looks set to lead Chelsea’s line in Lukaku and Timo Werner‘s (£8.6m) absences, the ‘out of position’ Kai Havertz (£8.1m).

One such cut-price striker is Ivan Toney (£6.4m), whose Brentford side sit top of our Season Ticker from now until Gameweek 18.

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3,460 Comments Post a Comment
  1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Evening all!! How we looking here??
    Might be pushed to do Wood to Toney tonight to preserve the exact money to do Alonso to Cancelo next week!! Would play Toney ahead of Livramento(who will come on if Alonso no shows)… I did Doucoure to Mbeumo with my free transfer.

    Foster
    TAA Alonso Rudiger Livramento
    Salah(C) Raphinha Townsend Mbeumo
    Ronaldo Antonio(VC)
    Subs- Bachmann Greenwood Wood White

    Cheers!!!

  2. Kay317
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    A) Lukaku to Kane
    B) Saka to Havertz

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I would do both if -4

  3. Zola
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Please help, been chopping and changing my mind all day. Lukaku and Sarr to:

    A) Toney and KDB
    B) Vardy and Havertz

    1. Gerd Mueller’s thighs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Either….

  4. Vovhund
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Saka and Lukaku for:
    1) Havertz+Auba
    2) Havertz+Jesus

    1. PScholes18
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      2 for me.

    2. Tinmen
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Pondering B myself. What about Vardy though? Have you got him

  5. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Jota > Son worth a -4?

    Sanchez
    TAA, Cancelo, Marcal, Livramento
    Salah, Jota, Benrahma, Gray
    Antonio, Vardy

    (4.0, Duffy, Dennis, Allan)

    1. banskt
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Keep Dennis first on bench. If Jota doesn't play and Dennis scores 2 points, Son needs to score at least 6 points to break even. Do you think he can do that in an away match against West Ham?

      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers, may wait til next week.

  6. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    2 FTs - will be Grealish & Lukaku out for

    a) Son and Vardy
    b) Havertz and Vardy
    c) Havertz and Kane

    1. PScholes18
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B for short term, A for longer.

      1. Jolly Good
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah I think Havertz next 3 way better than son. Can always get son later….

        Kane or Vardy … Vardy better fixtures … but last season he really dropped off when iheanacho was on fire … kane seems safer… but means no cash for son later

    2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

    3. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      A

      What am i seeing here. People picking Havertz over Son!?

      1. banskt
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        People looking at fixtures *only*.

  7. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Fairly settled on this WC team, Antonio and the double Brentford attack are the aspects I'm most uncertain on. Leaning toward giving Antonio the Spurs and Villa games now that he's had a midweek rest.

    0 ITB

    Raya
    TAA Cancelo Chilwell
    Salah (C) Son Raph Mbeumo
    Vardy Antonio Toney

    Foster - Livra White Brownhill

  8. PScholes18
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    On WC. Any thoughts? Might be a bit too punty.

    Ramsdale - Steele
    TAA - Dias - Rudiger - Livramento - Manquillo
    Kdb - Salah - Gray - Mbeumo - Normann
    Vardy - Hwang - Edourado

    0,4 ITB.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I like Edouard.

      Don't like Gray or Hwang. Would go Son over KdB.

      Defense is functional but not too exciting. Probably would lean Cancelo - Rudi or Chilwell - Dias.

      1. PScholes18
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks. Grey is on for the next two games, but if I go with Son over KdB I might get to squeeze in Havertz instead... Hwang basically due to lsck of cheap options.
        Cancelo probably gonna get benched hence more boring Dias.

    2. banskt
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      More punty ideas: Iheanacho instead of Vardy and use the money for upgrading Hwang.

      1. PScholes18
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        I like Vardy. Can see Nacho and Daka splitting minutes, but sure, Nacho+Jesus etc could be worth it.

  9. gomez123
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku & Doucore > Vardy & Havertz -4
    Y or N

    1. Fozzyb34r
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Y

    2. Athletico Underachieving
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Big fat Y from me

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Y

    4. gomez123
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Thanks all!!

  10. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Iheanacho anyone?

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      For free?

  11. Couch Potato
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Already have Vardy & Antonio up front

    What's the move?

    A Lukaku & Allan > Son & Toney (-4)
    B Lukaku & Shaw > Kane & Chelsea Def (-4)
    C Lukaku > Kane for free

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kane

  12. banskt
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which Chelsea players do you have for their next 3 fixtures - NOR, new, BUR?

    I only have Rudiger, any mids worth considering? Worried about game time of Mount and Havertz.

    1. Fozzyb34r
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Chilwell & Rudi

      1. banskt
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Double defense is the smart move under the given circumstances. 🙂

    2. Sad Pablo Arsecobar
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Havertz will play CF so don't worry. I had Lukaku, now no one, sad face

      1. banskt
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Havertz will play CF when Lukaku is out. What happens if Lukaku comes back in GW10? Will he even start?

    3. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      James and I think I will get CHO

      1. banskt
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Reckon Hudson-Odoi will get game time?

    4. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Alonso & Havertz

    5. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just James after selling Lukaku. Not even sure that counts as 1

  13. Michelle Davin
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Auba punt anybody?

    1. Fozzyb34r
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Good home form this season, worth a go

    2. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No. Arsenal aren't creating chances. Spurs game aside, goals are coming from circumstance rather than creativity.

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Bookies rate him

  14. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Thoughts on Ronaldo with Utd’s run?

    Not sure whether to keep or move to Kane/Vardy

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'd shift

    2. banskt
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Move, but not with a hit.

    3. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'd keep for Liverpool game, and then decide.

  15. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ramsdale
    TAA, Azpilicueta, Cancelo
    Salah (c), Mbeumo, Foden, Raphinha
    Lukaku, Antonio, Toney

    Foster, Livramento, Brownhill, Duffy

    1ft 0.7 itb.

    Looking likely I will get Vardy for Lukaku.

    Would you bench anyone to play Livramento?

  16. FITZ-G
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Help please! Keep Saka or transfer to Son, Mbuemo or Havertz? Move would cost me - 4 as I’m transferring Kaku to Vardy

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Son and Vardy is where the party is at.

      1. FITZ-G
        • 2 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Love a party! Cheers for your reply.

  17. WVA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    What happened to TrolLukaku then? Out for long?

    Didn't think my luck could get any worse but this is a real kick in the teeth, four blanks including a captaincy and now injured for his best fixture, he's got to go! Annoyingly means I can't do Benrahma to Raphina either now.

    Apologies in advance for Vardy not scoring again.

    Anything worth a hit?

    Sanchez
    TAA Cancelo Rudiger Livramento
    Salah Benrahma Gallagher ESR
    Ronaldo Vardy
    Steele White Sissoko Scarlet

    1. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Take some risks and perhaps you will get out of the rut you are in. Agressive approach could work.

      I would send Ronaldo the blanker packing.

  18. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Are you getting rid of Lukaku tonight to avoid the price drop or seeing what Tuchel has to say tomorrow?

    1. Drip Doctor
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Waiting

      1. Bury94
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah that's probably the sensible thing to do, just annoying when Lukaku is dropping and Vardy is rising

    2. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I've binned

    3. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      what is it you're hoping to hear from Tuchel?
      he's definitely out this weekend and could be multiple games

    4. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Just transferred now.. surely he's out this GW and Vardy will definitely outscore him the next 2-3

  19. Manani
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    who to ditch first?

    A. Benrahm
    B. Jota
    C. Sarr

    my bench is White/Livermento

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Jota

    2. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      JotJot

    3. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Jota

  20. mcginnntonic
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Mahrez
    or
    Havertz -4

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Havertz by a long way wouldn’t get a -4 for mahrez

    2. Joker91
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Same conundrum here. Although also have Mahrez to Son for a -4 to consider...

  21. ExpressoMySonny
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Which of these three?
    A) Lukaku to Vardy (c)
    B) Lukaku and Saka to Kane (c) and Mbeumo for a -4
    C) Lukaku and Saka to Toney and Son for -4

  22. Netters2018
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is the starting 11 right? Finding it tough this week...

    Sanchez
    Trent, Cancelo,Rudiger, Livramento
    Salah Raph Mbuemo
    Antonio Vardy ASM
    Bench: Sarr, Semedo, Gilmour

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Looks good

  23. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Suggestions on what to do here?
    Current team-

    Sanchez/Steele

    TAA/Dias/Marcal/3.9/3.9

    Salah/mbeumo/Gallagher/Gray/Sissoko

    Vardy/Lukaku/Antonio

    0 FTs 2.2 ITB

    Options are
    A- Lukaku to Kane (-4)
    B- Lukaku to Aubameyang (-4)
    C- Lukaku+3.9 def to Toney + Azpili (-8)
    D- Lukaku + Gallagher to Toney + kai(-8)

    Personally leaning towards C, not convinced by Kane/Aubameyang

    Thanks

  24. jimmypitch
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Lukaku to Vardy has been made and still have 1 FT plus £1.6m in the bank.

    Would you do Benrahma to Havertz or roll transfer? Have the exact money...

    Team:

    Foster
    TAA, Rudiger, Dias, Livra
    Salah (c), Raphinha, Benrahma
    Vardy (v), Antonio, Jimenez

    Sanchez, Douglas Luiz, Saka, Tomiyasu

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Dexters Laboratory
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Do it tomorrow when we know more if he's not going up tonight.. could be an interesting 3 week punt if Lukaku out

      1. jimmypitch
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Many thanks - three week punt was in my thoughts as Benrahma on my medium term list to go. Will sleep on it

    2. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Roll benrahama could do something at spurs

      1. ExpressoMySonny
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        Against

    3. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      i'd easily do BEn to Havertz there

    4. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Saka to Havertz?

      1. jimmypitch
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        0.2 short unfortunately, otherwise I would have done it already!

  25. Dexters Laboratory
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Start one
    A) ESR
    B) Livermento

    1. ExpressoMySonny
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Livra

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 5 months ago

        This

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      B

  26. Dogs Of War
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Straight shoot out between Kane and Vardy. Which one?

    1. baines is god
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Kane higher ceiling IMO

    2. Oscar Slater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      No Vardy, No Vardy Party. No Kane, No Pain.

      Easy.

  27. Mangusta761
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    James or livermento?

  28. baines is god
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    starting defence

    Sanchez
    Duffy TAA Manquillo (Williams Omobamidele)

    0 FT and 6.3 mil ITB, time for a -4 hit to upgrade a non playing Norwich?

  29. Alcapaul
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Is Lukaku, Sarr and Benrahma to Vardy, Mbeumo and Havertz -8 stupid?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      Nope, all can pay off handsomely

    2. Amartey Partey
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'd just do Lukaku

  30. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 5 months ago

    Ppl going to take the 0.2m price difference tonight on lukaku➡️Vardy move?

    Slim chance he plays the nxt couple of games surely? He was suffering frm fatigue in any case so time for a rest?

    1. 1966 was a great year for E…
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 5 months ago

      I'm making the move tonight, doubt we'll get any positive info on Lukaku tomorrow.