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Transfers 2026-01-14

GW22 Transfer Market: Thiago Mania, Foden Fallout — Smart Buys or Pure Knee‑Jerk?

FPL Admin

FPL Elite Analyst

Introduction

Gameweek 22’s transfer market is doing what it does best: chasing form, dodging injuries, and reacting hard to recent points. Below is the definitive GW22 “who’s in / who’s out” report—plus a reality check using form, points-per-game, xGI, and ownership to judge whether managers are making sharp, data-led moves… or classic knee‑jerks.

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Most Transferred IN (GW22)

1) Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues (Brentford)464,857 IN

Cost: 7.1 | Selected by: 34.7%
Form: 7.6 | Points: 120 | PPG: 5.7
xG: 12.59 | xA: 0.76 | xGI: 13.35 | ICT: 161.8

Verdict: Smart (borderline bandwagon, but justified).

The numbers scream *reliable scorer*: xG 12.59 with strong xGI 13.35.
The market movement is massive for a reason: form 7.6 and strong underlying threat.
The only caution: at 34.7% ownership, you’re paying a “template tax”—but it still looks like a solid buy rather than panic.

2) Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)391,262 IN

Cost: 6.7 | Selected by: 32.1%
Form: 6.2 | Points: 112 | PPG: 7.5
xGI: 2.32 | Bonus: 16

Verdict: Smart, points-led (not xGI-led).

This is a classic defender points profile: huge 7.5 PPG and strong bonus (16).
Don’t buy him expecting frequent attacking returns—xGI 2.32 is modest.
Still, with those points and consistency indicators, this is more *strategic* than knee‑jerk.

3) Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)351,315 IN

Cost: 7.2 | Selected by: 22.0%
Form: 7.0 | Points: 117 | PPG: 5.8
xGI: 6.39 | ICT: 139.2 | Bonus: 18

Verdict: Mostly smart, slightly form-chasing.

Form 7.0 plus bonus 18 suggests he’s involved and returning even without elite xGI.
xGI 6.39 is good rather than explosive, so managers expecting a pure haul machine may be overreaching.
As a steady mid, it’s a sensible transfer—just don’t expect striker-level output.

4) Harry Wilson (Fulham)338,623 IN

Cost: 5.9 | Selected by: 20.8%
Form: 4.8 | Points: 102 | PPG: 5.1
xGI: 6.21 | ICT: 114.9

Verdict: Mixed (could be a value play, but form isn’t screaming buy).

The underlying xGI 6.21 is credible for the price.
But form 4.8 isn’t exactly a siren call—this could be managers hunting a mid-price enabler.
Not a clear knee-jerk, but not a slam-dunk either.

5) Declan Rice (Arsenal)323,254 IN

Cost: 7.3 | Selected by: 27.2%
Form: 7.2 | Points: 122 | PPG: 6.1
xG: 2.66 | xA: 3.78 | xGI: 6.44 | Bonus: 18

Verdict: Smart (role + steady returns).

Form 7.2 and PPG 6.1 is premium-adjacent production.
xA 3.78 and bonus 18 hint at consistent involvement, even if he’s not the flashiest pick.
This looks like a “boring but effective” transfer.

6) Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds)238,623 IN

Cost: 6.0 | Selected by: 12.8%
Form: 6.4 | Points: 89 | PPG: 4.7
xG: 7.95 | xGI: 8.80 | Bonus: 15

Verdict: Sensible punt.

For 6.0, xG 7.95 is attractive, and the form 6.4 backs it up.
Not elite season-long output (PPG 4.7), but a fair upside punt at modest ownership.

7) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)222,166 IN

Cost: 9.1 | Selected by: 12.9%
Form: 3.5 | Points: 106 | PPG: 5.9
xG: 7.07 | xA: 5.09 | xGI: 12.16 | ICT: 179.3

Verdict: Data-smart, form-ignoring (high risk, high logic).

The xGI 12.16 and monster ICT 179.3 suggest strong underlying involvement.
But the market is buying despite form 3.5—this is managers betting that regression is coming.
Not a knee-jerk; it’s a calculated, stats-driven gamble.

8) Antoine Semenyo (Man City)214,947 IN

Cost: 7.6 | Selected by: 43.8%
Form: 6.2 | Points: 120 | PPG: 6.0
xGI: 8.52 | Transfers out: 246,591

Verdict: Volatile market signal (not a pure buy).

The wild part: he’s both heavily bought and heavily sold.
With 43.8% ownership, managers are split—some chasing his steady 6.0 PPG, others jumping off.
This smells like team-structure moves rather than a simple “he’s good/bad” conclusion.

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Most Transferred OUT (GW22)

1) Phil Foden (Man City)442,818 OUT

Cost: 8.7 | Selected by: 33.1%
Form: 2.4 | Points: 100 | PPG: 5.3
xGI: 8.39 | ICT: 145.2

Verdict: Mostly smart (form collapse), slightly knee-jerk (underlyings still fine).

Form 2.4 is brutal, so selling is understandable.
But xGI 8.39 and ICT 145.2 aren’t the numbers of a dead asset.
This looks like managers reacting to short-term output—not irrational, but potentially early if you believe in underlying data.

2) Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool)328,597 OUT

Cost: 8.9 | Selected by: 26.0%
Form: 3.2 | Points: 84 | PPG: 4.7
xGI: 6.89

Verdict: Smart.

At 8.9, you want premium-ish returns; PPG 4.7 and form 3.2 don’t justify it.
xGI 6.89 is fine, but not enough to defend that price tag in a competitive forward pool.

3) Antoine Semenyo (Man City)246,591 OUT

Form: 6.2 | Points: 120 | PPG: 6.0 | xGI: 8.52

Verdict: Could be knee-jerk (he’s producing), but may be strategic.

Selling an asset with 6.2 form and 6.0 PPG is rarely about performance.
More likely: managers are reallocating funds, reshaping, or reacting to uncertainty—hence the simultaneous big buy volume.

4) Matheus Cunha (Man Utd)219,253 OUT

Cost: 8.2 | Selected by: 11.9%
Form: 5.3 | Points: 66 | PPG: 3.7
xGI: 6.86

Verdict: Smart.

Even with decent form 5.3, the season value isn’t there: 3.7 PPG at 8.2.
Managers are cutting a mid-performing expensive forward—logical.

5) Joško Gvardiol (Man City)206,589 OUT (Status: i)

Cost: 6.0 | PPG: 4.8

Verdict: Smart (injury-driven).

When the status is injured, the market usually gets this right. Easy sell unless you can bench.

6) Rúben Dias (Man City)166,187 OUT (Status: i)

Cost: 5.6 | PPG: 4.8

Verdict: Smart (injury-driven).

Same story: injury + significant sales = pragmatic, not reactive.

7) Rayan Cherki (Man City)164,037 OUT

Cost: 6.8 | Form: 5.4 | PPG: 4.8
xA: 5.33 | xGI: 7.04

Verdict: Slightly knee-jerk.

With form 5.4 and strong creativity (xA 5.33), this isn’t an obvious dump.
This looks like managers preferring “cleaner” picks or chasing recent returns elsewhere.

8) Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)135,048 OUT

Cost: 7.7 | Form: 3.2 | PPG: 4.3
xGI: 6.10

Verdict: Mostly smart.

Form 3.2 and 4.3 PPG make him feel expendable at 7.7.
xGI 6.10 is okay, but not enough to resist the urge to upgrade/downgrade.

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Smart Moves vs Knee‑Jerks (Quick Summary)

Likely Smart Buys

Igor Thiago: elite scoring indicators (xG 12.59, form 7.6)
Gabriel: elite returns for a defender (7.5 PPG, bonus-heavy)
Rice: steady production (form 7.2, bonus 18)
Bruno Guimarães: stable mid with returns + bonus

High-Variance / Context-Dependent Buys

Bruno Fernandes: huge underlying data (xGI 12.16) despite weak form (3.5)
Wilson / Calvert-Lewin: look like value/punt plays more than “must-buys”
Semenyo: the market is conflicted—buy/sell volumes suggest strategy shifts

Clear Sells

Gvardiol / Dias: injured (status: i) = practical exits
Ekitiké / Cunha: price-to-output mismatch

Potentially Premature Sells

Foden: form is awful, but xGI 8.39 and ICT 145.2 suggest there may still be returns
Cherki: strong assist potential (xA 5.33) makes the exodus feel a bit reactive

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Conclusion

GW22’s transfer market is a blend of well-supported form buys (Thiago, Rice, Gabriel) and bigger narrative swings (Foden mass sales, the Semenyo split). The key takeaway: some “template” moves are popular because they’re genuinely backed by data—while others look like managers reacting to short-term pain without fully respecting strong underlying numbers.

If you’re making transfers this week, anchor decisions in xGI + points-per-game, then use form as a tiebreak—not the other way around.