It’s the most wonderful time of the year as Boxing Day looms upon us. As another article will be coming your way later in the week, we’re going to keep things brief this time around. Wishing everyone a happy holiday as the best present of all has been delivered. The caretaker manager bump is over as Carlo Ancelotti has taken over Everton and Mikel Arteta has taken over Arsenal. I’ll have more on these fits after I see their first lineups on boxing day.
Top Transfer Targets will take a look at the ownership tiers in FPL breaking down the best options in each. The tiers will be broken down as 25-40 percent owned, 15-24 percent, 10-15 percent, under 10 percent and Punty McPunterson, a player under five percent owned who I’m backing for success each week. This article will also include players to offload, some due to injury or being dropped by their teams, and others due to performance.
Let’s look at this week’s fixtures:
Thursday 26 December
Tottenham v Brighton
Bournemouth v Arsenal
Sheffield United v Watford
Chelsea v Southampton
Aston Villa v Norwich City
Crystal Palace v West Ham
Everton v Burnley
Manchester United v Newcastle
Leicester City v Liverpool
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Friday 27 December
Wolverhampton v Manchester City
Players to offload
Heung-Min Son (MID Tottenham 10.0m, 14.5%): Facing his third suspension of the season after his red card wasn’t rescinded, Son is too expensive to place on the bench for three weeks. Moving him to Dele Alli is a viable option in order to capitalize on good fixtures for Spurs but one can also try to upgrade him to Mo Salah in a double switch as well.
The 40 Percent club is made up of Jamie Vardy, John Lundstram, and Kevin De Bruyne this week. Jamie Vardy has risen above 50 percent ownership and Lundstram is within touching distance of 50 percent so it’s official, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not owning them at this point in the season.
Don’t get caught out in the crowd (25-40 percent owned at the time of writing):
Tammy Abraham (FWD Chelsea 7.9m, 36%): With Chelsea facing Southampton on boxing day, this is one of the games with the largest chance at a crooked number going on the scoreboard. Looking at the forwards behind Tammy, there is also little chance that he is rotated, a wonderful thing for the festive period.
Worth your consideration (15 - 24 percent owned):
Teemu Pukki (FWD Norwich City 6.6m, 17.1%): The hits keep on coming for Aston Villa as they have lost John McGinn to a broken ankle now. Also without Tyrone Mings again for this one, the stage is set for another big day for a forward versus the Villains. This sets the stage for another Pukki party seeing the Finnish striker emerge as a differential captain for the midweek games.
Dele Alli (MID Tottenham 8.9m 15.3%): Enter, your top Heung-Min Son replacement in Dele Alli. Considering that everything for Tottenham was going through Son and Dele before, the safe assumption is that it will now flow through Kane and Dele. With a match against a leaky Brighton defense, I’m backing Dele for returns.
Solid if not stellar (10-15 percent):
Lucas Digne (DEF Everton 5.7m, 11.8%): New manager bounce incoming? Digne has still been providing exceptional service into the box for the Toffees, he just needs someone to put away the chances. Considering Digne has been involved in 40 percent of Everton’s goals so far this season with them underperforming, imagine how well he’ll score if the attack even gets close to average. Add in that there’s a clean sheet chance versus Burnley this week, I have no issues buying on potential right now.
Rolling the dice (under 10 percent):
Willian (MID Chelsea 7.1m, 3.8%): I know we were all on the Christian Pulisic hype train, and for good reason. But while he has cooled off, old reliable Willian has continued to plug along for the Blues. With a possible route around the corner versus Southampton and good fixtures incoming after, I have no issues backing Willian after a big showing versus Tottenham.
