FPL 2025/26: England duo among five players that need to be dumped from your team ahead of GW20
Two of England's first-choice back four should be switched out of your team in FPL 2025/26
As one door opens with new FPL 2025/26 targets, another closes on players whose form, fixtures, or fitness are turning sour over the new year period, writes Fantasy Premier League expert Blake Hurst. Gameweek 20 isn’t the time to hold dead weight – every transfer counts with mid-season ranks tightening. Whether it’s rotation risk, tough fixtures, or injury clouds, these five names are best left out of your FPL thinking this week.
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Igor Thiago (7.0m)
It’s time to move Thiago on. The Brentford attacker seems to be nursing a minor injury and faces a rough run of fixtures – Everton, Sunderland and Chelsea in the next three. That’s a worrying slate for a forward who thrives on open spaces and weaker defences. While he’s always capable of nicking a return, there’s nothing to suggest this stretch suits him or Brentford’s attack. Statistically, this is a period where owning a Bees defender makes more sense than an attacker. With plenty of better short-term options available, selling Thiago now feels both logical and timely.
Nico O’Reilly (5.3m)
O’Reilly has done well to earn his starting spot, but FPL managers know better than to trust Pep Guardiola’s rotation roulette for too long. Even if he keeps his place at left-back, difficult fixtures against Chelsea, Brighton and Manchester United make defensive returns a stretch. All three sides possess attacking threat, and City haven’t exactly been watertight recently. Add in that lingering risk of a tactical benching, and O’Reilly quickly moves into the ‘sell’ category. When defenders at that price bracket can guarantee minutes elsewhere, there’s little upside in holding through this tricky patch.
THE FIVE PLAYERS TO SIGN AHEAD OF GAMEWEEK 20
Piero Hincapié (5.4m)
Anyone who took a punt on Hincapié as a budget Arsenal defensive cover should look to sell now. With Gabriel fit again, William Saliba locked in, and Jurrien Timber secure for minutes, there’s simply too much uncertainty around Mikel Arteta’s back four. Hincapié’s minutes could vanish, and that’s too risky for this stage of the season. Arsenal defenders remain great FPL picks overall – just not this one. Cash out while you can and reinvest in someone with secure minutes and a guaranteed spot.
Danny Welbeck (6.3m)
Just like Nick Woltemade last week against Burnley, Welbeck lands firmly on the avoid list for Gameweek 20. On paper, a home match against Burnley looks like gold for any forward, but that’s where the trap lies. His minutes remain far from certain for this week, and even if he starts, the Manchester City fixture that follows makes it a short-lived gamble. Brighton’s attack is unpredictable at the best of times, and Welbeck’s returns have been too inconsistent to justify a punt. It’s one of those weeks where the fixture screams potential, but the situation says stay clear – there are simply stronger options elsewhere.
Marc Guéhi (5.3m)
Guéhi’s defensive reliability has faded fast. Four consecutive blanks and a string of poor team performances have dragged Palace’s backline down. Injuries to Daniel Munoz and Chris Richards have only made things worse, leaving the defence exposed and short on cohesion. The fixture list doesn’t help either – Newcastle, Aston Villa, Sunderland and Chelsea in the next four all look capable of scoring. Even when Palace do keep things tight, Guéhi’s FPL ceiling is low without attacking threat lately. There’s no reason to hold when more solid, attacking defenders offer far greater upside over the coming weeks.