FPL gameweek 35 is a time of ruthlessness. With four game weeks to go, every transfer needs to help you move up, not just hold your spot. A few big names have already done their bit, but a combination of injuries, poor performances and falling numbers mean it’s time to cash out. Here are five players I would be happy to sell before the deadline.
Dominic Solanke (7.3m)
Tottenham striker Solanke was unfortunately sold to his supporters in Gameweek 34, but a hamstring injury changes everything. Even if the problem isn’t long-term, you can’t afford someone who might miss time eventually. Aston Villa away are followed by a run that includes Leeds, Chelsea and Everton, and that’s not the kind of schedule you want from a team in danger of relegation. Spurs are in need of points, but Solanke’s fitness makes him a real danger to catch. In running, you want active forwards, not uncertainty. This is one of the best selling items on the board.
Declan Rice (7.2m)
Arsenal midfielder Rice has been a good asset all season, but at the moment he doesn’t offer enough to justify keeping him if you try to make a late push. The offensive numbers are very quiet, and an average of 8 DEFCON per start over six game weeks isn’t enough to make up for that. You’ll still eat the odd assist from corners or set pieces, but that’s not enough when most midfielders have higher ceilings and better performances. If you’re chasing a position, this is the time to go from solid to explosive. Rice has done a great job, but the final weeks are near so you need to go.
Anthony Gordon (7.4m)
Gordon is a tricky one because the games look good at first. Brighton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest should be respectable on paper, but all three are also in form and could frustrate Newcastle if they are not at their best. Gordon’s minutes aren’t locked in either, especially if he just returns to practice. That makes it hard to trust him when you need clarity. Newcastle have been poor of late, and with so many other midfielders and strikers providing more assurance, Gordon feels like a sell-out rather than a holdover. If it is not fully encrypted, the appeal of the game begins to fade quickly.
Xavi Simons (6.5m)
This is brutal. Netherlands international Simons was a good punt for one week last week, but a torn ACL ended his season abruptly and ended his World Cup dream. That makes him go from an interesting exception to a dead weight on your team. At this stage of the season, every position is important, and carrying a player who won’t play again is the opposite of what you need. His absence also removes another interesting difference from the midfield pool, but the priority now is to move forward quickly. It’s a simple sale, no second thoughts needed. Release the slot and put it to work.
James Tarkowski (5.7m)
Tarkowski has been a reliable defensive option for a long time, but the base numbers have fallen off hard. A DEFCON rating of just 7.2 per start over the past six game weeks is nowhere near enough for a reliable linebacker to step up. Add in a game against a title-chasing City side, and the offense to catch him quickly weakens. At 5.7m, you can do better. This is the stage of the season where quarterbacks need pure power numbers or strong DEFCON numbers. Tarkowski gives you very little of both of these yet.
