Cherki (MCI, Midfielder, £6.8m)

Verdict: SELL

Cherki's recent inconsistent minutes and high transfers out make him a prime candidate to move on, despite his availability.

The Reasoning

Fitness & Availability: Cherki is fully available and has no injury concerns, which is a positive. He's fit and ready to play.
Recent Performance: His form of 5.4 is decent, but a closer look at his recent hauls shows inconsistency. A 1-point cameo in GW21 after only 17 minutes is a red flag for his starting security. While he has 8 assists this season, his goal threat is low (2 goals), and he's delivered two blanks (4, 5 points) in his last three starts.
Upcoming Fixtures: Man City face a mixed bag with tough away trips to Manchester United (A) and Spurs (A) sandwiching a home tie against Wolves (H). The Wolves game is appealing, but the surrounding fixtures are challenging.
Underlying Stats: His creativity (512.3) and expected assists (xA) are consistently good, indicating he's involved in chance creation. However, his threat (265.0) and expected goals (xG) are lower, explaining his limited goal output. The ICT index of 111.7 is respectable, but not enough to offset the rotation risk.

Risks

The primary risk is Man City's infamous rotation, especially in midfield. Cherki's recent minutes suggest he's not nailed, which is a huge concern for a £6.8m asset. The high volume of transfers out this gameweek (184,529) indicates managers are losing patience.

Alternative Options

For a similar price point, consider players like Olise (£6.0m, if fit and playing regularly for Crystal Palace) or Garnacho (£5.0m, a cheaper differential showing good form for Man Utd). If you can stretch the budget, someone like Jota (£8.0m, Liverpool) offers a higher ceiling and more consistent minutes when fit.

The Strategic Play

With Cherki's minutes looking uncertain and tough fixtures on the horizon after Wolves, it's time to cut ties. Reinvest the funds into a more nailed midfielder with better immediate prospects or a clearer path to consistent starts and returns. Don't get caught holding a City midfielder who isn't playing regularly.

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