FPL

FPL 2025/26: Extra free Gameweek 16 transfers ahead of AFCON

19 July 2025 122 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Alright, but apart from the defensive contribution points, twice as many chips, elite leagues and more assists, what has Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ever done for us?

Given us extra transfers to help deal with the exodus ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), that’s what.

HOW MANY EXTRA TRANSFERS – AND WHEN?

In Gameweek 16, FPL managers will have their free transfer allowance topped up to five – regardless of what they had amassed already.

WHEN DOES AFCON TAKE PLACE?

AFCON will take place between Sunday 21 December 2025 and Sunday 18 January 2026.

That covers Gameweeks 17 to 22 in FPL:

WHEN DO PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS LEAVE FOR AFCON?

Premier League players will be departing for their countries earlier than the above dates.

Usually, clubs must release players 14 days before a continental championship.

However, it is now understood that players will only have to depart seven days before their countries’ first AFCON 2025 match.

So, players should be able to complete their Gameweek 16 fixtures before jetting off.

MAX OUT YOUR TRANSFERS IN GAMEWEEK 15?

Strategically, the initial thought is that it would be beneficial to exhaust your free transfers by the time the Gameweek 15 deadline has passed.

This would give you an extra four free transfers, as well as your normal weekly one, for Gameweek 16.

If you’d rolled two going into Gameweek 16, by contrast, you’d only get a) your normal weekly free transfer and b) two additional ones.

WHICH PLAYERS WILL BE GOING TO AFCON?

Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo will be among the big names heading to AFCON this winter.

You can read our full guide to the tournament, and its FPL implications, via the link below:

Salah injured as Egypt's AFCON progress

AFCON 2025: Salah, Wissa + Mbeumo and the other players who could miss six Gameweeks

122 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Looks like any sort of tactics and planning being slowly eroded from this game

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  2. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Haha, you just have to laugh at this point.

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  3. WHUFCSmith23
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Games gone. We are all casual now.

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    1. ploskon23
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 months, 14 days ago

      its not about us. its about them getting rich of millions participating.

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  4. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    I miss the days of long term planning, finding hidden gems in pre season and just overall enjoying a simple game.

    Double the chips + 5FT during AFCON like Assistant Manager last year, feels like over engineering the game to me.

    I'd happily pay to play if it meant there was a simple 'old school' version of the game.

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    1. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Agree, I wish they just made a variation of the game that those who like spammy mobile app games could play.

      I really miss the planning ahead.

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    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      It’s about engagement. As with everything the push is to create buzz and to bring in new people

      They have the hardcore fans, they are going nowhere. Its now about branching out and I like the changes as it refreshes a game which hasn’t had a proper refresh in many years

      One thing it does do is help content creators with content which I imagine is another factor. There are now various touch points in the season where content creators have content they can build around for months

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      1. Zalk
        • 14 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        The number of managers has actually stopped growing since they started all these ridiculous changes every year. It has plateaued at around 11 million.

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      2. Rwilliams90
        • 14 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        This is what it's really for. The content creators are now running the show so of course they'll make changes to suit themselves. Long -term players will be pushed away I think but the numbers won't be anything that bothers them.

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      3. WVA
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        Doesn’t this just mean it means content creators can make more money?

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      4. Mirror Man
        • 1 Year
        4 months, 18 days ago

        The exception that proves the rule. A unique geriatric. Kudus.

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    3. Sloopy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      ^ this!

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    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Fan team. Ahem.

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  5. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    This is the first miss so far

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  6. polis
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Expecting the next update to confirm there'll be a maximum of 16 players to pick from.

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  7. Rwilliams90
    • 14 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Let's be honest, content creators have killed the game.

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    1. Davido989
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      I can never understand putting content behind a paywall for a game that is free.

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    2. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      I think they're in charge now, FPL has outsourced it.

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    3. ColeyHoley
      • 2 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      But they are bobbins.

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    4. Mirror Man
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Old farts everywhere! They've mustered the energy to leave their round table of rich tea biscuits (with butter), gammy tea, and moaning!

      It happens once per year when fpl improve their product.

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  8. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    At this rate all out attack chip will back

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    1. Mirror Man
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 18 days ago

      We need two of them

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  9. tricky80
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Why not just automate everything so I don't have to plan or make choices?!

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      That kind of happens already. People just copy other content creators or use ai

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    2. Botman and Robben
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      This 5 transfer thing nullifies the advantages great managers have in planning ahead for the AFCON exits.

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    3. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      don't worry, Microsoft AI is coming soon

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    4. Mirror Man
      • 1 Year
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Stick to bowls and bingo

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  10. Botman and Robben
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    I am a lazy manager, this will help me.

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  11. tricky80
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Or maybe the competitiveness is too triggering, so let's give everyone effort points and we all win together!

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    1. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

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  12. A Fat Spanish Waiter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    This is the one change that I really dislike. Part of what give experienced players an edge is thoughtful transfer planning. Now we get another half of wildcard, and all those donkeys who would have said “why isn’t Salah playing this week” get a free pass.

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  13. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    This one is unnecessary

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    1. Rwilliams90
      • 14 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      100% I've been playing since the very beginning and I can't remember AFCON ever being a problem to navigate. Completely needless change.

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  14. Studs Up
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Reminds me of what an open book exam use to be like

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    1. im1974
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      I passed those ones. But this is silly

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  15. Captain Mal
    • 1 Year
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Do I get an extra free transfer when one of my players blanks?

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  16. bitm2007
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    They will be giving 5 extra transfers in January to get the AFCON players back next

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    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      followed by more extra transfers to deal with the blanks and DGW's.

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  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    2 wildcards, 2 free hits, 5 extra free transfers let’s go

    This season is going to be carnage. Price changes going to be so hard to predict

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Points galore with new scoring system. Breaking new ground

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  18. Stevig
    • 16 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    shall we just pick a new team each week ??????

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    1. Stevig
      • 16 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      feeling the shadow of fpl challenge looming the game i love

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  19. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    4 months, 18 days ago

    Fair play to FPL. They realise it is a marketing tool to foster interest in the PL and so are making changes to keep all the casual managers engaged.

    More transfers, more chips, more points (through rule changes) = More fun

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    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Exactly and they need to compete with other games -uefa, fifa, pauper week games

      It’s made me more excited for the new season, the same old game was getting boring

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    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Also more punts, you can now take bigger risks short term and know if it doesn’t work out it’s not the end of the season

      It’s going to negatively impact those who are conservative and risk adverse but for those who like to have fun this is great

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    3. WVA
      • 9 Years
      4 months, 18 days ago

      = more money

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  20. Moon Dog
      4 months, 18 days ago

      Anyone been counting the defensive actions in the Manchester United v Leeds game?

      Cunha looks so out of place. Like a diamond in a river of crap.

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      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        I think mbuemo is going to give the team some real energy. His whole game at Brentford was about hard work and using a lot of energy so look forward to seeing him in the team. He might transform the energy of the attack

        Still need a striker. Sesko, Watkins and they could be a real threat with Amad, Bruno

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        1. Moon Dog
            4 months, 18 days ago

            Mbeumo is an incredible player but I still think this team needs a lot more. The build-up from back to front is painful. I think they need a top central midfielder and Martinez fit. The defensive unit don't look great with or without the ball, even with Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw, Casemiro starting.

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      2. Botman and Robben
        • 9 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        Waiting for FPL to announce that if any player on your team gets red flagged, you automatically get 1 free transfer to take him out.

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        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          I would mine that one. I've suggested an injury crises chip in the past so you are not derailed by unfortunate events out of your control.

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          1. Botman and Robben
            • 9 Years
            4 months, 18 days ago

            What would constitute an "injury crises"?

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            1. bitm2007
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              It would be to replace all red flagged players once a season.

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      3. Nightcrawler
        • 6 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        this is a good change for those who take the game seriously

        casuals will inevitably blow the chips early on, allowing the more patient ones to maximize the chips with the 5 FTs

        excellent change

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      4. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        This is a terrible change, and quite unnecessary. I am surprised that Mark has been forced to allow it, since I find it hard to believe it's his idea.
        I had been planning to play my first wildcard in Gameweek 16 to prepare for AFCON, but now there's not much point.
        No point in saving transfers which might come in useful later either, since everyone gets their transfers topped up to five and ends up with the same team.

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        1. Zalk
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          I imagine Mark coming home from work crying for a fourth time this week and his wife asks him: "More changes to the game huh?"

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        2. Studs Up
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          As in any work environment, people's mindset/outlook changes when put in a different (especially higher) position...

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        3. Nightcrawler
          • 6 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          if u were planning to use ur wc in 16 you can make wholsesale changes and keep 5fts going into the festive season

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        4. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          I was planning to WC then as well. I'm now thinking save as many FTs as needed for GW15, and those combined with those in GW16 will probably allow you to all but WC before the AFON without using the chip.

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          1. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 15 Years
            4 months, 18 days ago

            So you're suggesting that I could use all my saved transfers to make some of my intended wildcard changes in Gameweek 15, then use up to five in Gameweek 16 to make the rest, and play my Wildcard some other time? That might be a possibility.
            Or I could still Wildcard in Gameweek 16 as originally planned and then carry the five transfers over and use them later, as Nightcrawler suggests. I may perhaps just see how it goes and then decide later whether to play my wildcard in Gameweek 16 or earlier, and whether to use the extra AFCON transfers in Gameweek 16 or save them for later.

            There's certainly no point now in carrying any transfers over from Gameweek 15 to Gameweek 16. If I have transfers to spare then that might be a good time to Bench Boost.
            Even more managers than usual will probably now be Bench Boosting in Gameweek 1 and Wildcarding shortly after, but playing a very early wildcard always seems to turn out badly for me, so I made a resolution (which I often have difficulty in keeping to) to wait at least till the second international break before playing it in future.

            If the pricing is too generous then it might even be possible to afford a strong bench for a Bench Boost in Gameweek 1 as well as a strong first eleven, and not have to wildcard away from it straight afterwards, but I think it is unlikely that will be possible without weakening the first eleven more than I would like.

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        5. ploskon23
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 months, 14 days ago

          this is perhaps my last season being here from start. I dont like games for dummies. almost 20 years of learning, discovering strategies. Now I hear "go home".

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      5. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        4 months, 18 days ago

        FPL price announcement:

        Salah 8m
        Haaland 7m
        Saka 6m
        Palmer 5m

        Everyone can have all their faves, no need to stress x

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        1. Zalk
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          There's also the sub-one-million-booster feature coming up, which doubles your GW points if you're below 1 million.

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          1. Nightcrawler
            • 6 Years
            4 months, 18 days ago

            none of the changes introduced actually make the game easier to play, just more points on offer, but its about the rank. more strategies involved now than ever before so can only be good for the game

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Come on - being gifted up to four FTs makes the game easier, no way around it

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              1. Nightcrawler
                • 6 Years
                4 months, 18 days ago

                it only makes u get more points, but if used with planning gets u even more point, especially if used to get the best out of chips. Just like the chips in the previous seasons...the 2nd wc in theory made the game easier but if u didnt use it well with the dgws u ended up hurting ur rank ultimately

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            2. Zalk
              • 14 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              A conversation in another forum made me read up on something called oppositional defiant disorder.

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              1. Nightcrawler
                • 6 Years
                4 months, 18 days ago

                good to know. no idea what it has to do with fpl changes. would hate it if they introduced midweek sub rule, just as so many others would so there goes ur disorder

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        2. polis
          • 14 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          And transfers in decrease their prices.

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        3. Leo14CFC
            4 months, 18 days ago

            Where did you see this ??

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Mate

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            2. bitm2007
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Has to be an ironic comment.

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        4. Botman and Robben
          • 9 Years
          4 months, 18 days ago

          Do we get another 5 transfers when African players come back to the EPL after AFCON?

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        5. Moon Dog
            4 months, 18 days ago

            These two teenage centre backs at Manchester United ooze class. Heaven and Yoro are going to be top players. What a change to the build-up since they came on...

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            1. x.jim.x
              • 11 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              I love Yoro, but I wish we’d have sorted out other areas of the pitch before spending a lot on him

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              1. Moon Dog
                  4 months, 18 days ago

                  I think you got a bargain. I can see why Madrid wanted him.

                  Hojlund however, is lowering his transfer fee with every touch he has in this game 😆

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                  1. x.jim.x
                    • 11 Years
                    4 months, 18 days ago

                    Oh yeah in a vacuum - just wonder whether it was the right time, considering we still need a striker, midfielder, keeper…

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            2. phil_whites11
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 15 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Which scout membership gets you access to the members area where you can look at the player stats and hall of fame?

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            3. Vinyl78LP
              • 15 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Waiting for the Blue Shell chip, to nuke your ML leader just before the end of the season.

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            4. Mr. O'Connell
              • 13 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              This is huge for those tripled up on Sunderland. Half the team off to AFCON

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            5. Mr. O'Connell
              • 13 Years
              4 months, 18 days ago

              Excellent way to break the template. Give the whole game 5FT at the same time.

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              1. Mr. O'Connell
                • 13 Years
                4 months, 18 days ago

                Assuming Salah is in most teams at this point, it makes it so easy to spread the funds freed up from selling the most expensive player in the game.

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