FPL GW12 Targets: The Best Transfers to Make This Week

Welcome back from the November international break – also known as the annual yellow-flag festival. Most of us have logged in to find our squads covered in knocks and niggles, which is pretty much tradition at this point.

From this Saturday onwards we hit a brutal stretch: ten FPL deadlines in just 45 days. It’s a chaotic period, but if you manage it well, you can set yourself up brilliantly for the second half of the season.

With GW13 shaping up as a popular wildcard week, this list includes a mix of long-term picks and a couple of short, one-week punts for those planning to WC them out next week.

Mohamed Salah (14.2m)

Who would’ve predicted Mohamed Salah being a differential this early in the season? After most managers backed him over Erling Haaland in GW1, we’ve somehow ended up in a spot where the FPL king is flying under the radar.

This feels like the moment to bring him back. Liverpool’s fixtures look excellent with Forest, West Ham, Sunderland & Leeds all in the next four gameweeks.

Salah’s track record tells us he rarely needs long to punish anyone who ignores him. He might not hit the outrageous heights of seasons past, but he’s still easily one of the most reliable players in the game.

Yes, AFCON is coming, but that’s weeks away – you can enjoy the points now and downgrade later.

Matheus Cunha (7.9m)

Matheus Cunha is one for the Vibes FC managers, but there’s serious logic behind the pick too. At just 4.4% ownership, he’s a proper differential with the potential to explode if things fall his way.

Sesko’s injury makes him far more secure in the front three, and Zirkzee looks to be slipping down Amorim’s pecking order. Cunha loves a shot, is heavily involved, and his underlying numbers have quietly improved.

With Manchester United and a decent run of fixtures coming, this might be the perfect time to jump on before the rest of the community catches on. He doesn’t go to AFCON either – a big bonus unlike his midfield counterpart – Mbeumo.

Virgil Van Dijk (5.9m)

Van Dijk sits right near the top of defender picks this week, and for good reason. He’s posting one of the highest DEFCON scores among all defenders and has a great run of fixtures ahead.

Liverpool’s defence hasn’t looked elite yet, but this stretch – Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Sunderland and Leeds – feels like the perfect window for clean sheets to finally start rolling in.

Add to that his classic threat from set pieces, especially those trademark bullet headers, and you’ve got a defender who can return at both ends of the pitch. If you’re looking for safe, steady points, Van Dijk feels like the standout.

Nico O’Reilly (5m)

Nico O’Reilly should absolutely be on your watchlist. Sitting at just 2.2% ownership, he’s quietly returned in all but two matches since GW4 and is forcing his way into Pep’s plans.

Rotation is always part of the deal with City assets, but O’Reilly has started seven of the last eight league games and is averaging an impressive 7.8 DEFCON per 90. Two 11-pointers and an eight-pointer in the last four gameweeks highlight how explosive he can be.

With Leeds, Fulham and Sunderland among City’s next five opponents, he looks like a cheap defender pick with genuine upside. Two assists and a goal already – more to come.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6.6m)

If you like a calculated punt, Szoboszlai is the type of differential that can genuinely swing a mini-league. His Premier League returns so far – one goal and one assist – don’t tell the full story.

Since moving into that No.10 role, he’s delivered four returns in his last five matches across all competitions and looks far more threatening.

At only 5.6% ownership, he’s the kind of pick that sneaks under the radar but carries real upside with Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures. He’s nailed, has some set-piece involvement, and is clearly growing in confidence. Not the most traditional FPL asset, but exactly the kind of gamble that can pay off.