Chip Strategy
2 September 2025 183 comments
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Many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers are activating a Wildcard over the international break, ahead of the Gameweek 4 deadline.

In fact, over 44% of responders in our on-site poll are planning to play the chip ahead of the upcoming Gameweek:

In this article, we outline the pros and cons of a Gameweek 4 Wildcard and put together a few team drafts.

Don’t forget that you can get your Wildcard team rated via our Rate My Team tool or Plan FPL!


GAMEWEEK 4 WILDCARD: THE PROS

FPL notes: Watkins’ woes, Palace impress + Sarr injury

  • If you haven’t got off to a good start, a Gameweek 4 Wildcard can help rejuvenate your squad. This could be beneficial if you own players like William Saliba (£6.0m), Cole Palmer (£10.4m), Bukayo Saka (£9.9m), Matheus Cunha (£8.1m), Ismaila Sarr (£6.5m) and Jorgen Strand Larsen (£6.5m), who are currently flagged, or underperforming assets such as Florian Wirtz (£8.4m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.9m). A Wildcard offers a chance to resolve these issues in a free-hit manner.
  • The transfer window has closed, so some questions now have an answer. Newcastle United have signed forwards Nick Woltemade (£7.0m) and Yoane Wissa (£7.5m) to replace Alexander Isak (£10.4m), who has moved to Liverpool in a British-record deal worth £125m. Elsewhere, the transfer of Harvey Elliott (£5.4m) to Aston Villa suggests regular starts at a budget price. It’s also about the transfers that didn’t happen – knowing that no more will occur suddenly adds security to the situation.
  • This international break will likely see plenty of price rises and falls, so team value can be increased by ditching the droppers and jumping on bandwagons. Players such as Marcos Senesi (£4.5m), Marc Guehi (£4.5m) and Riccardo Calafiori (£5.6m) are all forecast to rise tonight. You can monitor these changes using Live FPL’s price predictions tool.
  • A typical international break is silly season when it comes to FPL flags. While many of these injury ‘doubts’ will be fine to feature in Gameweek 4, there will surely be some exceptions. Deploying the Wildcard now let’s FPL managers effortlessly remove those who are injured during the international break.
  • Given that they are ranked fourth on our Season Ticker in Gameweeks 4-10 (see below), it could be beneficial to triple-up on Liverpool. Crystal Palace have some favourable matches coming up, too, and you might want to proactively prepare for the fixture swings of Manchester City and Arsenal in Gameweeks 6 and 7, respectively.

GAMEWEEK 4 WILDCARD: THE CONS

FPL notes: Isak + Trippier injury updates,

 

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183 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Pep Roulette
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 3 days ago

    Hey fam! Why isn't Tavernier being mentioned? Isn't he a good option from Bournemouth attack at just 5.5m with good numbers?

    1. Ghost Ship
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      You really want him, right? He’s fine. Ticks over. Bit boring.

    2. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      He's fantastic for that fixture run, historically contributes to a decent amount of goals per minutes

      1. faleh
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Yo where do you find this historically contributes to goals per minutes stats.

          I know I can find xG per 90 at understat but yeah where do you find this

          1. omgjesustonik77
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            2 months, 26 days ago

            sofascore

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      Do Guiu to Mateta? And bench wood or roll?

      Thoughts?

      Guiu & Sarr —> Mateta & Semenyo (-4)

      1FTs & 4.0itb
      Sanchez
      Munoz Andersen Rodon
      Salah Kudus Sarr Bruno Reijnders
      Watkins Wood

      Dubravka Guiu Williams Dorgu

    4. Joyce1998
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      A- Bruno + VDV/4.5
      or
      B- Mbeumo + Porro

      1. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        A I think, due to Bruno pens & defcon. Loads of good 4.5s to look at.

    5. Brosstan
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      Guiu really throws a spanner in the works. 4 Chelsea players and I really don't wanna use a transfer just to change fodder to fodder. The only realistic thought I had to remove Guiu in the future was as part of the Salah -> Haaland switcheroo. But can't really do that with Salah having Burnley and week after is a bad one as well for that with Haaland facing Ars. Maybe try to just tank the 2 game weeks w 4 Chelsea and do Guiu/Salah -> Haaland/King.

      Anyone else in the 4 Chelsea Guiu predicament?

    6. AC Pilkington
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      Did Bournemouth get any CBs in the transfer market?

      Just wondering if Senesi is still safe as number 1 CB

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        He's been brilliant for a while

        Just got outshined by Kerkez etc last season

        1. Pariße
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Senesi lost his place to Huijsen last season.

      2. Kingy109
        • 4 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        They signed 2 teenage defenders - a right back and a centre back

    7. LS11
      • 1 Year
      3 months, 3 days ago

      Current team:

      Sanchez (Dubs)
      Murillo Porro Diouf (DeCuyper) (Hartman)
      Salah Wirtz Kudus I.Sarr (Reijnders)
      Watkins Wood JP

      Thinking WC to this:

      Vicario (Dubs)
      VVD Richards Sensei (Rodon) (Hartman)
      Salah Grealish Semenyo Elliot (King)
      Haaland Mateta JP

      Plan would be bank 2 FTs then GW6 do:

      Salah + Mateta to Xavi or Bruno + Isak

      Then GW7 Upgrade King to Xavi or Bruno

      Thoughts? And thanks!

      1. Lallana_
        • 11 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        I'd wait and see on Elliot but it's fine punting on him with those fixtures. I'd start King this week though.

        I like the plan of downgrading Salah for Isak, I'm planning on doing that using 2FTs once he's up to speed. I'm curious if he plays 70 minutes or full games. If only 70 minutes, Salah is better as a captain despite the slow start.

        Don't think Bruno or Xavi is a must buy in GW7. I'd be looking towards Arsenal.

        1. LS11
          • 1 Year
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Thanks for the reply.

          I like the Elliot punt. Great to rotate with King and catches any price rises.

          Great shout on Arsenal tbf. This gives enough money for Saka or Odegaard.

          Makes sense to WC imo

      2. Ron_Swanson
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        Good to see Mr. Miyagi in there

    8. Lallana_
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      No FPL creator seems to be worried about not owning Haaland despite him being so focal. Man United next at home 0.0

      1. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        Double the xGI of any other attacker I think. I can get to him for -4 but with Arsenal after United match I am not sure if it can wait until GW6, which is probably when most people will jump on.

      2. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        Do City convince you though?

        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          I feel as though Marmoush holds Haaland back but attacking wise, yes.

          If you're not wildcarding now it's best to wait for GW6. I want to wildcard now and save my transfers to bring in Arsenal players GW7.

      3. Miguel Sanchez
        • 9 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        I’m currently on TC for Haaland vs United

        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Might as well before the whole FPL community bring him in

        2. Make FPL Casual Again
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Nah check last years results before getting too carried away

      4. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        United recent results at the Ethihad are 😉

        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          They've had some bad results there! Maybe another 6-3?

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            Haaland TC baby

          2. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            I’m undecided whether to keep on WC or not

            1. Lallana_
              • 11 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Depends on your faith in Bournemouth, Haaland and what fires you need to put out.

              For me I got problems.

              -Sarr (injured?)
              -Wirtz (Szoboszlai performing much better, could lose minutes)
              -Ait Nouri (pep routlette, tough short-term fixtures, overpriced)
              -Fernandes (bad fixtures, reliant on pens)
              -Kudus (too defensive, Solanke better?)
              -Watkins (prefer Rogers only for Villa "cover")
              -N. Williams (Zinchenko could bench him)
              -Marc Guiu (bad bench player vs. King or Dewsbury-Hall)

              1. LS11
                • 1 Year
                3 months, 3 days ago

                I read your previous post and now leaning wildcard. See a few posts above for my dilemma as I’m similar to you

                1. Lallana_
                  • 11 Years
                  3 months, 3 days ago

                  just replied!

      5. Make FPL Casual Again
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        Despite being so crap United got two results vs City last year, no Haaland returns..

        BUT Haalands ridiculous XG is scary...

        1. Lallana_
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Yeah, City are a shadow of themselves but Haaland looks better this year and United defensively seem unsure. If they put their new keeper in they probably have a better chance but a hard game for his debut.

    9. Pompel
      • 11 Years
      3 months, 3 days ago

      toying around on a Tuesday night .- can make this FH team for GW4:

      Petrovic
      Calafiori Tosin Virgil
      Salah Semenyo Reindeer KDH
      Isak Haaland Beto

      Subs: Dubravka Richards King Gudmundson

      It is tempting to hit the button .... my ordinary team is meh for GW4

      But I'm seeing a few tempting GW's closer to year end as well - GW10, GW14 and GW18 look good for most of the big teams

      1. White Pony
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 3 days ago

        I don't think Isak starts and the midfield looks fairly week, not convinced on Reijnders and KDH as top picks on a FH.

        1. Pompel
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          I know Isak is a stretch, would be fun if it worked out. Always possible to change closer to deadline if we know more

    10. Absolutely Muñozed
        3 months, 3 days ago

        I am strongly considering this Wildcard so please help me out here. Thanks
        Petrovic
        Senesi VDV Guehi
        Salah Gakpo Semenyo Sarr
        Haaland Pedro Mateta

        Dubravka Gudmundson Rodon King

        IF sarr is unfit then Raindeer instead of Sarr

        1. Pompel
          • 11 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Downgrade Gakpo and get Arsenal defender for Guehi. Otherwise g2g

          1. Absolutely Muñozed
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Gakpo is good for coming GW. I think Guehi is better for next few GWs

        2. Make FPL Casual Again
          • 7 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Option 1 Cunha to Grealish, bench Wood, play Josh King vs LEE

          Ootion 2 Cunha to KDH, Wood to Haaland, play KDH or King, -4

          1. Pompel
            • 11 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            You need Haaland this GW, so 2

            1. Make FPL Casual Again
              • 7 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Yeah Im leaning towards that..KDH cant be that bad at 10 can he, for 5 m....?

          2. FantasyClub
            • 4 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            Option 1.

        3. Bleh
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Who would you say is a more guaranteed starter?

          A. Calafiori
          B. Chalobah

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            A

            1. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Cheers, Chelsea’s fixtures don’t look as appealing as Arsenal’s in a few weeks either.

        4. Joyce1998
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Would you W'c this or hold?
          1 FT 0.4 itb

          Sels
          Cucu, Porro, Diouf
          Salah, Gakpo, Johnson, Reijnders
          Gyokeres, Watkins, Wood

          Dubravka, Minteh, Konsa, Esteve

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            I’d hold

          2. Gazwaz80
            • 6 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            Wildcard…

        5. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          How’s this penalty merchant Salah/Haaland draft. 6/8 attack on pens plus Grealish and Pedro

          Raya
          Caliaflori, Guehi, Senesi, Tosin, Gudmundsson
          Salah, Grealish, Enzo, Paqueta, Le Fee
          Haaland, Pedro, Mateta

          1. ball c
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            One of the best wc drafts I’ve seen.
            What’s the thinking behind Paqueta?

        6. Flynny
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Still no news on cunha.....seems slightly odd no update apart from pulling out of Brazil squad...

        7. Bleh
          • 8 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Thoughts on this WC?

          Raya
          Calafiori, Livramento, Guehi, Senesi (Rodon)
          Gakpo, Eze, Semenyo, Grealish (Elliott)
          Haaland, Pedro (Isak)

          My only question mark is around Eze who could share minutes with Odegaard as Arteta prefers playing 8 at the back. Alternatively Elliott could become King to accommodate Saka/Palmer later.

          1. Bleh
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            0.5 ITB for Eze > Mbeumo potentially.

          2. FantasyClub
            • 4 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            You think Elliot gets into the team straight away?

            1. ball c
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              I think he could. Number 10 or in midfield 3

              1. FantasyClub
                • 4 Years
                3 months, 3 days ago

                Would be nice. I’m on WC want him also

            2. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              I think so yeah, Villa need something and Elliott has a great shot on him.

          3. Gazwaz80
            • 6 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            This is almost my wildcard 😀

            1. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Nice to know I’m not alone haha

          4. Pedersen
            • 7 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            Will gakpo be benched with Isak coming in? Ekitike could take his minuts by being moved down to the left wing

            1. Bleh
              • 8 Years
              3 months, 3 days ago

              Potentially yes, I think Gakpo/Wirtz/Ekitike will be rotated for those 2 spots. At that price though and without Salah in my draft, I don’t mind punting on Gakpo. Had him before his double price rise too.

            2. yvnevrevnmulchedacow
              • 3 Years
              3 months, 2 days ago

              I got gakpo isak ekitike and sorts on WC so I can know find out who to drop. 30 mins of any of them is enough to get a return against Burnley in my opinion. It's hard to say who will drop but someone has to really unless he plays sorts in a two with 4-2-2. Not gonna happen

        8. FDMS All Starz
          • 10 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Which option is better?

          A) Watkins & Sarr —> Haaland & KDH (-4) (start wood)
          Or
          B) Sarr & Guiu —> Mateta & Semenyo (-4) (bench wood)
          Or
          C) Guiu —> Mateta (free, bench wood)

          1. Bleh
            • 8 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            A

          2. FantasyClub
            • 4 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            C

          3. ball c
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            3 months, 3 days ago

            C

        9. ball c
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          On WC:
          Which options.
          A) Evanilson (will have Semenyo too) or
          B) Mateta (will have Munoz).

          Thinking A - Palace have Europe and loss of Eze and Sarr injury

        10. ball c
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Which option on wc:

          A) Raya & Tosin
          B) Petrovic & Cucurella

          (Will have Senesi for b’mouth).

        11. Darragh82
          • 6 Years
          3 months, 3 days ago

          Would you do these transfers for a -4?
          Rogers, Guiu, Wirtz, Wan-Bissaka to Elliott, Ekitike, Reijnders, 4.4 def.

          I want to hold the wildcard back until players like Palmer/Saka come back from injury and actually see how teams settle with form and starting line-ups.

          Would give me:
          Kelleher
          VVD, VDV, Williams
          Salah, Elliott, Dewsbury-Hall, Kudus
          Haaland, Pedro, Ekitike
          Dubravka, Reijinders, Esteve, 4.4 def

        12. marcus2704
          • 15 Years
          3 months, 2 days ago

          Less than two hours until that most irritating popup finally disappears! 🙂

        13. yvnevrevnmulchedacow
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 2 days ago

          Why do you guys not show a no haaland no Salah team? You might as well. It's the best option

        14. yvnevrevnmulchedacow
          • 3 Years
          3 months, 2 days ago

          I got gakpo isak ekitike and sorts on WC so I can know find out who to drop. 30 mins of any of them is enough to get a return against Burnley in my opinion. It's hard to say who will drop but someone has to really unless he plays sorts in a two with 4-2-4. Not gonna happen

        15. Boomerang V
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 28 days ago

          I am on BB (WCded last gw)

          The only player I am not happy with for my BB is Wood, due to ars fixture.

          However, next 2 fixtures are great for him: bur and SUN

          I have 1 FT, should I do:

          1) Wood to Richarlison
          2) Wood to Evanilson
          3) Wood to Beto
          4) Wood to ? up to $7.6
          5) Keep Wood for upcoming great fixtures
          6) Any other move

          BB active - 1FT - 0itb
          Raya, Pope
          Calafiori, Chalobah, Lacroix, Van der Ven, Senesi
          Salah, Gackpo, Semenyo, Grealish, Enzo
          J Pedro, Mateta, Wood

        16. drewellis95
            2 months, 27 days ago

            my current team is

            Allison Dubravka

            Van De Ven Guehi Konsa Dorgu Wan Bissaka

            Salah Reijinders Xhaka Fernandes Palmer

            Gyokeres Watkins Beto

            got 2 FT with no money in the bank, what transfers should I make? (my gut is telling me to do a wildcard already used free hit)

          • Suttus
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 26 days ago

            Madueke is looking tempting against a a Ange high line

          • james.elix
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            2 months, 24 days ago

            Current WC team (0.5 over budget):
            Sanchez, Dubravka
            Gabriel, Munoz, Senesi, Andersen, Gudmundsson
            Salah, Semenyo, Paqueta, Reijnders, King
            Haaland, Joao Pedro, Mateta

            Would you downgrade:
            A) Sanchez to Kelleher?
            B) Andersen to Reinildo?
            C) Paqueta to Elliott?

            Thanks for your thoughts!

          • Jet5605
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 24 days ago

            Is Evanilson being overlooked on WC? Cheaper than JP, Mateta and has nice fixtures and is playing for a good team. No pens but neither has JP.

          • Atwood
            • 15 Years
            2 months, 24 days ago

            Is it madness to roll with this on a FT? Nothing but bench fodder outside the 11.

            Petrovic
            Munoz - Burn - Van de Ven
            Salah - Barnes - Reijnders - Kudus
            Haaland - Ekitike - Mateta

          • REDANDWHITEWALKERS
            • 3 Years
            2 months, 21 days ago

            So I can see my current team aren't performing time to pull the WC trigger?

            Sanchez/ Dubs
            Munoz, Guehi, VDV, Dior, Esteve
            Salah, Wirtz, Kudas, Fernandes, Rejinders
            JP, Wissa, Sesko

            Thinking
            Vicario/ Dubs
            VDV, Guehi, Sensi, Timber, Califori
            Caceido, Palmer, Semenyo, Kudas, Rejinders
            Haaland, JP, Gyorkeres

            Thoughts please

            1. REDANDWHITEWALKERS
              • 3 Years
              2 months, 21 days ago

              I did it but swapped Kudas for Zubimendi and Timber for VVD.

            2. Stranger Mings
              • 5 Years
              2 months, 21 days ago

              Looks good