Market moves · GW7

Most-Bought Players before GW8: Are They Worth It?

The most-bought list shows where the market is moving, but it does not tell us on its own whether the market is right. Before GW8, this review checks the leading transfer targets against form, minutes, price and the upcoming schedule. The aim is to separate players whose data supports the buying wave from those benefiting from a fast reaction to one gameweek, so a transfer becomes part of a plan rather than an attempt to follow the crowd.

By Roshn FDR Published: 14 Sep 2026, 20:01 Reading time: 6 min
Quick takeaways

What matters before you make the move

  1. Ilenikhena currently leads the buying wave with 3,158 transfers in.
  2. Market momentum is more persuasive when form, minutes and fixtures agree with it rather than when it rests on the last score alone.
  3. Martinelli needs a deeper comparison if the player you own has similar minutes and a comparable schedule.
  4. Using the market well means understanding why managers are buying, not trying to reach every player whose ownership is rising.

How to read the most-bought list

Transfers in measure post-gameweek market mood. They are useful for showing where ownership is heading and whether a player may become more important for rank, but they do not separate a good move from a late one. A player can lead buying because managers are chasing a return that already happened or because a genuine fixture and role change improved the outlook.

That is why the market has to be checked against form, minutes and the next-round projection. When the signals agree, the buying wave confirms an existing case. When they do not, market momentum becomes a warning, especially if the transfer requires selling a good asset or using most of the available budget.

1) Ilenikhena — is the buy justified?

With 3,158 transfers in, Ilenikhena is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 5.9, projection 5.9 and 321 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Al Hilal away, rated very difficult relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is balanced, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. Against that, he also has 267 transfers out. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing.

The case becomes stronger when the move fixes a weak position and the player can stay useful for several weeks. If you are selling a similar asset only because the market moved, the upgrade may be limited. The current availability data does not flag an obvious participation concern.

2) Watkins and 3) Martinelli

Watkins has received 2,764 transfers in this event. The market is moving toward him while form is 7.4, the next projection is 7.4 and ownership is 15.0%; those are the numbers that decide whether the momentum is justified. The next fixture is against Al Ittihad at home, rated balanced for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. If the price also unlocks another upgrade, the transfer can be more valuable than the player-level numbers alone suggest.

With 2,618 transfers in, Martinelli is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 8.3, projection 8.3 and 158 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Al Ittihad at home, rated balanced for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is very favourable relative to the field, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buy is understandable, but the signals are mixed enough that it should not be an automatic move for every squad. The choice between Watkins and Martinelli should not be reduced to one number: Martinelli has the stronger current form, while Watkins is more widely owned, and Martinelli is the cheaper option in this comparison. The better move therefore depends on whether you need safety, budget flexibility or more room to differentiate your rank.

4) Toney and 5) Medrán

Interest in Toney is clear from 2,060 transfers in, but the move should still be judged through 605 minutes, form 12.7 and the fixture run rather than the market number by itself. The next fixture is against Al Fateh away, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is favourable overall, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. The fourth market target can still be useful, but there is little reason to rush if your current option has an acceptable fixture and safer minutes.

With 1,971 transfers in, Medrán is one of the market movers. Before following the crowd, form 7.5, projection 7.5 and 584 minutes matter more than the purchase count alone. The next fixture is against Al Khaleej at home, rated very favourable relative to the field for this type of decision. Across the 5 fixtures visible in the upcoming window, the average run is balanced, so the case does not rest on one matchup alone. The buying trend has support from several data points rather than looking like pure points-chasing. This category needs one extra question: are managers buying because the role and schedule genuinely improved, or because one recent return moved sentiment faster than the fundamentals?

When does points-chasing become a problem?

Buying after a player scores is not automatically wrong; sometimes the return is the first visible sign of a genuine trend. The problem is when the points are the only reason while wider form, minutes or fixtures do not support the move. At that point, you may be spending a transfer on information the market has already fully priced in.

If a player is rising quickly but faces a tougher matchup or uncertain role, waiting can be stronger. Conversely, a player who did not haul last week but still has strong form and a favourable run can be the better transfer even if he is absent from the most-bought list.

Market movement, ownership and real risk

Heavy buying gradually raises ownership and changes the rank effect of the player. Owning a popular asset reduces downside when he returns, but buying only for protection can limit upside when a better alternative exists. Ownership is a risk-management tool rather than an independent quality metric.

There is also no need to chase every potential price rise early. If your budget allows patience, new information before the deadline can be worth more than a small price difference. A later decision with clearer availability information is often better than an early transfer that becomes awkward if the team picture changes.

Who to buy and who to watch before GW8

From this group, Ilenikhena and Watkins deserve the first checks because the market movement sits alongside a profile that can be supported in several ways. Martinelli needs comparison with the player you own, while Toney and Medrán are closer to watchlist options when there is no urgent route in.

Before confirming the move, ask whether the player is better than your current option for minutes, form and fixtures, and whether the transfer still makes sense after GW8. If the answer is yes, the market is confirming a useful decision. If not, most-bought does not mean most suitable for your squad.

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