Rayan Cherki is this week's most-bought player at £7.7m, and he has already had two price rises. The start has been eye-catching, with 2 goals and 2 assists in just 2 Premier League appearances for Manchester City. In 109 Premier League minutes, he has given FPL managers the sort of early return that changes the conversation fast.

Cherki's early case

Gianni Buttice's call is pretty clear. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "Rayan Cherki (£7.7m) is this week's most-bought player, with two price rises already. After his impressive last outing, he is the standout midfield pick."

The latest outing backs that up. Cherki posted an 8.7 rating in his most recent Premier League appearance, and the production has arrived without much time on the pitch. For FPL managers looking for a City midfield entry point, that is the appeal, especially when the market has already pushed his price twice.

Phil Foden remains part of the discussion, but Cherki is the one moving fastest right now. If you are looking for City value rather than City certainty, he is the obvious name to start with.

Haaland and Gvardiol remain the safer routes

Buttice also pointed to Erling Haaland as the premium move. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "If you do not own Erling Haaland (£15.5m), using a chip to bring him in is much simpler than spending several transfers to fit in the game's most expensive player."

That lines up with the output. Haaland has 7 goals in 5 appearances across all competitions in 2026, with 2 Premier League goals in 2 appearances. He is still the cleanest captaincy option in the City side, especially for gameweek three.

At the back, Buttice named Joško Gvardiol as the best defensive option from Manchester City. Gvardiol has already delivered 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 Premier League appearances, and his latest league rating was 7.7. He gives FPL managers a route into the defence with attacking upside, which is a decent combination for a £5.6m defender.

The order is straightforward enough. Cherki looks like the breakout buy, Haaland remains the captaincy anchor, and Gvardiol is the defensive pick if you want City cover without paying top-end prices. The only real decision now is whether managers want to act before Cherki climbs again.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →