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Transfers 2026-01-28

GW24 Transfer Market: Bruno Mania, Haaland Exodus — Smart xGI Moves or Classic Knee-Jerk?

FPL Admin

FPL Elite Analyst

Introduction

Gameweek 24’s transfer market has a clear storyline: managers are piling into Manchester United and Chelsea assets, while some of the biggest names in the game are being shipped out at scale. Below is a data-first breakdown of who’s trending, and whether the moves look sharp or knee-jerk based on points, form, and underlying numbers (xG/xA/xGI).


Most Transferred IN (GW24)

1) Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)600,682 IN

  • Price: 9.5 | Selected: 23.9%
  • Points: 121 | PPG: 6.0 | Form: 4.4
  • xG: 7.44 | xA: 5.65 | xGI: 13.09
  • ICT Index: 196.7 | Bonus: 21

Read: This is the most convincing “big move” of the week. Bruno’s xGI (13.09) and elite ICT (196.7) signal sustained involvement, not a one-week blip. The form isn’t blazing, but the long-run data screams consistent chance creation + goal threat.

Verdict: Smart transfer (process-driven). Not purely form-chasing.


2) Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd)499,772 IN

  • Price: 8.3 | Selected: 15.3%
  • Points: 93 | PPG: 5.2 | Form: 3.8
  • xGI: 9.72 (xG 6.30, xA 3.42)
  • ICT Index: 154.2 | Bonus: 14

Read: Managers are betting on solid xGI per cost rather than current form. Form at 3.8 suggests this isn’t just chasing last week’s points; it’s a broader swing toward a player with balanced scoring and assisting potential.

Verdict: Mostly smart, slightly speculative given the modest form.


3) João Pedro (Chelsea)403,917 IN

  • Price: 7.2 | Selected: 30.3%
  • Points: 104 | PPG: 4.5 | Form: 4.8
  • xG: 7.19 | xA: 1.38 | xGI: 8.57
  • Bonus: 20

Read: Strong popularity (30.3% owned) plus fresh buying suggests managers want a mid-priced forward with reasonable goal expectation. Underlyings are okay, but not explosive for the price/ownership.

Verdict: Borderline — more “safe template comfort” than a pure data smash.


4) Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)330,670 IN

  • Price: 6.7 | Selected: 16.4%
  • Points: 106 | PPG: 4.8 | Form: 7.0
  • xG: 8.73 | xA: 3.95 | xGI: 12.68
  • ICT Index: 162.7

Read: Enzo is the definition of a transfer that can be both hot and justified. Form 7.0 plus xGI 12.68 is a rare combination at 6.7m.

Verdict: Smart — form-backed-by-underlyings, not a blind bandwagon.


5) Patrick Dorgu (Man Utd)254,078 IN

  • Price: 4.4 | Selected: 9.7%
  • Points: 74 | PPG: 3.4 | Form: 6.2
  • Status: d
  • xGI: 3.28

Read: The price is doing the talking. But there’s a major red flag: status “d”. Buying a doubtful player is classic “I want a cheap enabler now” behaviour.

Verdict: Knee-jerk risk — budget-driven, and the flag makes it volatile.


6) Antoine Semenyo (Man City)241,944 IN

  • Price: 7.8 | Selected: 48.2%
  • Points: 130 | PPG: 5.9 | Form: 4.4
  • xGI: 9.04 | ICT: 164.5

Read: With 48.2% ownership, this is heavily “don’t get left behind” territory. The points/PPG are strong, but the xGI (9.04) is good rather than elite for the price.

Verdict: Pragmatic (template protection), slightly knee-jerk-ish due to mass adoption.


7) Harry Wilson (Fulham)163,438 IN

  • Price: 6.0 | Selected: 24.0%
  • Points: 114 | PPG: 5.2 | Form: 5.8
  • xGI: 6.74 | Bonus: 16

Read: A classic mid-price midfielder move: decent form, decent output, and a workable cost. Underlyings aren’t screaming, but returns have been steady.

Verdict: Reasonable, not a huge upside swing.


8) Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea)155,904 IN

  • Price: 5.6 | Selected: 21.0%
  • Points: 114 | PPG: 5.2 | Form: 4.0
  • xGI: 1.82 | ICT: 77.2

Read: This is not an attacking-data transfer. xGI 1.82 and low ICT suggest managers are buying for points already banked (and likely defensive returns), not future attacking upside.

Verdict: Potential knee-jerk — points-chasing more than predictive metrics.


Most Transferred OUT (GW24)

1) Phil Foden (Man City)595,633 OUT

  • Price: 8.5 | Form: 1.8
  • Points: 102 | PPG: 4.9
  • xGI: 8.47

Read: Form-driven selling at scale. The underlying xGI is still respectable, so the mass exit looks like frustration rather than a clear data-based necessity.

Verdict: Knee-jerk leaning — selling because of form (1.8), not because the numbers collapsed.


2) Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle)393,449 OUT

  • Price: 7.2 | Form: 6.8
  • Status: d
  • Points: 120 | PPG: 5.7
  • xGI: 6.98

Read: Selling a player in strong form (6.8) is rarely popular unless there’s an issue—here it’s the “d” status. This looks like a sensible risk-management transfer.

Verdict: Smart if you’re avoiding flagged players; otherwise it’s a tough sell given the form.


3) Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool)238,255 OUT

  • Price: 8.8 | Form: 1.0
  • Points: 87 | PPG: 4.3
  • xGI: 8.14

Read: Form at 1.0 will trigger mass sales. The xGI is decent, but not enough to protect him from that kind of cold streak at 8.8m.

Verdict: Understandable, though slightly reactive.


4) Rayan Cherki (Man City)191,783 OUT

  • Price: 6.6 | Form: 2.8
  • xA: 5.63 | xGI: 7.49

Read: The standout here is the assist potential: xA 5.63 is strong. Selling despite that suggests impatience with returns rather than a deterioration in creative output.

Verdict: Knee-jerk — the chance creation data argues for patience.


5) Igor Thiago (Brentford)169,152 OUT

  • Price: 7.2 | Form: 7.0
  • xG: 13.19 | xGI: 14.05
  • Points: 124 | PPG: 5.4

Read: This is the strangest sell-off on the page. Form 7.0 and elite xG/xGI is exactly what you want from a forward. If managers are selling anyway, it looks like a structural/budget reallocation rather than performance.

Verdict: Likely a mistake / highly knee-jerk from a data standpoint.


6) Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)154,204 OUT

  • Price: 7.1 | Form: 2.0
  • xGI: 6.94

Read: Low form, middling xGI. Not much to argue with—this is a typical churn spot.

Verdict: Fine — not inspiring enough to hold through a dip.


7) Erling Haaland (Man City)150,990 OUT

  • Price: 15.1 | Selected: 72.7%
  • Points: 166 | PPG: 7.2 | Form: 2.6
  • xG: 18.60 | xGI: 19.86

Read: The data screams “keep”: monstrous xG/xGI and best-in-game PPG. The selling is almost certainly budget unlock + form frustration. But removing a 72.7%-owned, elite-metric player is a high-variance gamble.

Verdict: Knee-jerk / high-risk — you’re fading the best underlying goal threat in the game.


8) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)149,964 OUT

  • Price: 10.0 | Form: 3.2
  • xGI: 10.69

Read: Saka’s underlying involvement (xGI 10.69) is strong enough to keep him in the conversation. This looks like managers funding other moves (Bruno/United/Chelsea) more than a clear “sell at all costs” signal.

Verdict: More reactive than rational — not a data collapse.


The Big Picture: Smart Strategy vs Knee-Jerk Trends

Transfers that look data-smart

  • Bruno Fernandes — elite xGI 13.09 + top ICT.
  • Enzo Fernándezform 7.0 backed by xGI 12.68.
  • Selling Bruno Guimarães — the “d” flag makes it practical, despite great form.

Moves that look knee-jerk or points-chasing

  • Selling Haaland — despite xGI 19.86 and PPG 7.2.
  • Selling Igor Thiago — despite xGI 14.05 and xG 13.19.
  • Buying Dorgu while status = d — budget temptation over certainty.
  • Buying Chalobah — low attacking indicators; feels like chasing past returns.

Conclusion

GW24’s market is split between genuinely strong, underlying-backed buys (Bruno and Enzo stand out) and mass emotional selling of premium/performing assets (Haaland and Igor Thiago are the headliners). If you’re playing the long game, the best edge is simple: follow xGI and role stability, not last week’s mood—and be very careful fading players whose numbers still dominate the league.