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Transfers 2026-01-09

GW22 Physio Room: Ekitiké 75%, Salah & Mbeumo AFCON, Kudus Out — Smart Replacements Ranked

FPL Admin

FPL Elite Analyst

Quick GW22 Physio Room Introduction

Injuries, suspensions, and international duty can wreck even the best-laid FPL plans. Here’s your Gameweek 22 Physio Room update focusing on the most relevant flagged, higher-ownership names from the data — plus practical replacement ideas based on role, output, and underlying numbers (xG/xA/ICT).

🚑 GW22 Injury & Availability Report (High-Ownership Flags)

Hugo Ekitiké (FWD, £8.9m) — 26.5% selected — 75% chance of playing

  • •Status: Doubtful (hamstring) — "75% chance of playing"
  • •Why it matters: He’s a major ownership swing player at 26.5%.
  • •Season output: 84 pts | 8G/2A | 1128 mins
  • •Underlying threat: Threat 431.0, xG 5.78

FPL take (GW22):

  • •If you have a strong bench, Ekitiké is a classic hold-and-start-if-fit.
  • •If your bench is thin or you can’t absorb a cameo, consider moving him on for a nailed forward.

Replacement ideas (same slot):

  • •Safe minutes forward: Prioritise a striker who reliably starts to protect you from a 1-point appearance.
  • •Profile match: Look for a forward with strong Threat and a credible xG footprint (Ekitiké’s is 5.78).

Mohamed Salah (MID, £14.0m) — 14.3% selected — OUT (AFCON from GW17)

  • •Status: Not available — AFCON duty from GW17 onwards, unknown return
  • •Season output: 64 pts | 4G/3A | 1183 mins
  • •Chance creation remains elite: Creativity 454.7 (huge)
  • •All-round involvement: ICT 114.6, Threat 408.0

FPL take (GW22):

  • •This is a sell for most managers given the unknown return date.
  • •If you kept him for too long, don’t compound it — free up funds and restructure.

Replacement ideas (premium-to-premium or restructure):

  • •Direct like-for-like: A premium midfielder with both Threat and Creativity (Salah brings both: Threat 408.0 / Creativity 454.7).
  • •Restructure play: Use the £14.0m to upgrade two positions, especially if you also need to cover other flags.

Bryan Mbeumo (MID, £8.1m) — 8.9% selected — OUT (AFCON from GW17)

  • •Status: Not available — AFCON duty from GW17 onwards, unknown return
  • •Season output: 74 pts | 6G/1A | 1405 mins
  • •Elite underlying profile:
    • •Threat 527.0 (monster)
    • •Creativity 472.6
    • •ICT 135.9
    • •xG 5.35, xA 3.41

FPL take (GW22):

  • •He’s the definition of a forced transfer if you still own him.
  • •The upside: his price point is perfect for a direct sideways move without ripping your squad apart.

Replacement ideas (mid-price attacker slot):

  • •Prioritise “dual-threat” mids — Mbeumo’s value was combining xG (5.35) and xA (3.41).
  • •If you’re chasing upside, target a midfielder with a similarly high Threat number.

Mohammed Kudus (MID, £6.4m) — 12.1% selected — OUT until 11 Apr

  • •Status: Injured (thigh) — Expected back 11 Apr
  • •Season output: 75 pts | 2G/6A | 1535 mins
  • •Strong creator: Creativity 413.8, xA 2.41

FPL take (GW22):

  • •With a return date far away, this is a clear sell.
  • •His appeal was value + creation; replace him with a mid who can contribute assists consistently.

Replacement ideas (budget-to-mid price):

  • •Assist-first mids: Kudus profiles as a creator (6 assists, xA 2.41). Replace the role, not just the price.
  • •If you need to fund a premium move elsewhere, this is the slot to find savings.

🟥 Defensive Flags to Note (If You Own Them)

These aren’t the highest ownership in the list, but they still matter if they’re in your squad.

Michael Keane (DEF, £4.8m) — 6.6% selected — Suspended until 31 Jan

  • •Status: Suspended
  • •Output: 96 pts | 3 goals | Value 20.0 (huge)

Replacement approach:

  • •If you relied on him as a starter, prioritise a defender with secure minutes and some goal threat.

Riccardo Calafiori (DEF, £5.6m) — 6.8% selected — Muscle injury (unknown return)

  • •Status: Injured, unknown return
  • •Output: 77 pts | 9 clean sheets | Value 13.8

Replacement approach:

  • •With no clear return date, treat as a sell unless he’s a luxury bench piece.

Rúben Dias (DEF, £5.7m) — 5.3% selected — Hamstring, back 11 Feb

  • •Status: Injured — Expected back 11 Feb
  • •Output: 95 pts | 10 clean sheets | Form 4.7

Replacement approach:

  • •If you can bench him, a short-term hold can work. If you need points now, move to an immediately available defender.

Joško Gvardiol (DEF, £6.0m) — 6.1% selected — Leg injury (unknown return)

  • •Status: Injured, unknown return
  • •Output: 77 pts | 2G/2A | Form 4.0

Replacement approach:

  • •Unknown timelines usually mean sell, especially at £6.0m where your money can work harder.

Daniel Muñoz Mejía (DEF, £5.8m) — 6.2% selected — Knee, back 17 Jan

  • •Status: Injured — Expected back 17 Jan
  • •Output: 89 pts | 3G/3A

Replacement approach:

  • •Likely the easiest defensive hold if you can bench for one more week.

GW22 Transfer Priorities (Simple Order)

  1. •Sell AFCON absences: Salah, Mbeumo (both unavailable, unknown return).
  2. •Sell long-term injury: Kudus (out until 11 Apr).
  3. •Assess short-term doubts: Ekitiké (75%) — hold if you have bench cover.
  4. •Fix defensive dead spots: Keane (suspension) / unknown return-date defenders depending on your bench depth.

Conclusion: Win GW22 by Protecting Minutes

Gameweek 22 is about eliminating guaranteed zeros (AFCON/long-term injuries) and avoiding 1-point cameos where possible. Move off Salah, Mbeumo, and Kudus with confidence, then make a call on Ekitiké based on bench strength. The best replacement isn’t always the most exciting name — it’s the one most likely to deliver secure minutes + strong Threat/Creativity in the role you’re replacing.