Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 25 – target midweek FA Cup games for bumper points

MIDWEEK FA Cup fifth round fixtures mean nine teams are set to pull double duty in Gameweek 25.

As usual, you should try to ensure your Dream Team contains several players with two fixtures at their disposal in hope of banking plentiful points.

However, while the short-term focus is on favourable double headers in Gameweek 25, you should probably be plotting to target the upcoming Europa League knockout fixtures – not to mention Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League round of 16 tie.

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Dream Team

One of Dream Team’s most in-form players currently features in just 3.1% of teams[/caption]

Here we’ll propose some transfer suggestions specifically for Gameweek 25 as well as some with longer legs.

Pascal Gross (£4.4m)

First up, a man who ticks both boxes.

No midfielder has earned more points than Brighton’s No13 across their last three outings and a home game against out-of-form Everton this Saturday looks ripe for further returns.

The Seagulls will then face Wolves in the cup on Wednesday night.

If the combination of good form, favourable league match-up and additional midweek fixture isn’t enough to convince you of Gross’ viability then it’s worth noting that Roberto De Zerbi’s men have four fixtures to fulfil across Gameweeks 26 and 27 once their Europa League opponents are determined.

In fact, Brighton and Liverpool are the only two teams facing three consecutive double Gameweeks.

Gross has scored scored five goals and provided a whopping 12 assists in all competitions this season.

He’s also seemingly on penalties while Joao Pedro (£4.3m) is injured.

The Germany international is comfortably De Zerbi’s most-used player in 2023/24 too – he’s essentially rotation-proof.

Pedro Neto (£3.4m)

Getty

One of the Premier League’s most-exciting talents[/caption]

It doesn’t take a genius to see that backing Sheffield United’s opponents is often a fruitful endeavour.

The Blades are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table having mustered just 13 points since promotion and this Sunday they travel to Molineux to face a Wolves side who beat Tottenham last time out.

Gary O’Neil’s side have a certain swagger about them these days, mostly because of Neto’s incredible dribbling and counterattacking speed.

The Portuguese winger has registered 16 goal involvements in just 19 appearances this season and will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of running at the top flight’s worst defence.

As previously mentioned, Wolves will then host Brighton in midweek.

Neto averages 6.2 points-per-game this campaign and is therefore on for a double-digit haul in Gameweek 25, he may even manage that against Chris Wilder’s beleaguered troops alone.

Luis Diaz (£3.8m)

EPA

A man in form[/caption]

Like Gross, Liverpool’s Colombian winger has a lot of things going for him right now.

Not only is he set to take his impressive form (47 points in five games) into a double header this coming Gameweek, the upcoming Europa League knockouts mean he’ll be extra busy.

Plus, with Diogo Jota (£4.3m) sidelined for at least two months and both Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) minor doubts at the time of writing, Diaz is virtually guaranteed substantial minutes in the Reds’ productive front three for the foreseeable future.

After Wednesday night’s win over Luton, the 27-year-old has now scored ten goals and provided six assists in 2023/24.

Jurgen Klopp’s side take on Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday before hosting Southampton on Wednesday night – one suspects Saints will be more focused on their quest for promotion in the Championship.

Looking ahead, Gameweek 26 looks ripe for points for Diaz and company with an as yet undecided Europa League opponent to follow a game against 16th-placed Nottingham Forest.

It’s probably spelling out the obvious here: if Salah is good to go this weekend then he’s clearly a fantastic option.

The Egyptian superstar bagged ten points in just over 45 minutes upon his return to remind us all of his supreme pedigree.

Rasmus Hojlund (£3.8m)

AP

Very much among the goals[/caption]

You simply have to consider Manchester United’s in-form striker given he’s scored in each of his last six games in all competitions.

This bounteous spell has yielded 59 points and so it’s understandable why he’s currently the second-most popular recruit ahead of Gameweek 25.

The Red Devils play Fulham in the league and Forest in the cup which constitutes a friendly double header on paper.

However, it’s worth noting they have just one fixture in Gameweek 26 – a trip to the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s side have struggled for clean sheets this season and Hojlund is capable of posing a threat to any opponent in current form but it’s fair to assert that Manchester City away is about as tough as it gets schedule-wise.

If you’re happy to ride out the Manchester derby then United are also due to play Everton and Sheffield United before the international break.

Diogo Dalot (£3.4m) also belongs in this conversation although the industrious full-back is certainly more of a short-term punt with that trip to the Etihad looming large.

Elsewhere, Man City’s double header of Bournemouth and Luton looks appealing on paper but we’ve highlighted this strategy several times in recent weeks.

If you can negotiate Guardiola rotation policy then ample rewards await.

Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 2pm deadline!

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