Final Friday Wildcard update. This version reflects the latest European minutes, Friday team news and the Gvardiol/O'Reilly rotation concern. It is a structure-first Wildcard: confirm live prices in the OneFPL Planner before activating because prices can move again before the deadline.
Final OneFPL GW7 Wildcard draft
Goalkeepers
Bart Verbruggen Budget backup goalkeeper
Defenders
Gabriel Riccardo Calafiori Maxim De Cuyper Bobby Thomas David Affengruber
Midfielders
Bukayo Saka Pascal Groß Rayan Cherki Johan Manzambi Mohamed Belloumi
Forwards
Erling Haaland João Pedro Thierno Barry
This is a flexible 15 rather than a promise that every price combination fits every team value. Check the exact live cost in the Transfer Planner and use the budget alternatives below if your selling value differs.
Preferred GW7 starting XI
GK: Verbruggen
DEF: Gabriel — Calafiori — De Cuyper
MID: Saka — Groß — Cherki — Manzambi
FWD: Haaland — João Pedro — Barry
Captain: Haaland Vice-captain: Saka
Bench order
- Belloumi
- Affengruber
- Bobby Thomas
- Backup goalkeeper
Bench order is not fixed for every manager. If Belloumi is strongly expected to start and Barry's matchup/minutes look weaker, a 3-5-2 is perfectly viable.
Latest FPL news
Why Haaland is non-negotiable
Manchester City host Ipswich.
The final official captain analysis calls Haaland the standout GW7 captain after he scored in five consecutive Gameweeks and then twice against PSG. (Premier League captaincy)
A Wildcard that deliberately avoids the best captaincy asset needs an extraordinary reason.
Haaland gives:
- captaincy;
- penalties;
- elite team attack;
- one of the best fixtures of the season.
The workload is worth monitoring after 90 European minutes, but Friday coverage did not report an injury problem.
Why Saka stays
Saka remains the premium midfield anchor.
Official Scout Selection data highlights:
- seven big chances, most among FPL midfielders;
- 12 shots in the box, top for Arsenal;
- penalties;
- strong long-term Arsenal role. (Scout Selection)
The Wildcard should not chase recent points at the expense of repeatable premium process.
Brighton: double-up first, triple-up optional
The two Brighton players with the strongest default case are:
Groß + De Cuyper
Groß combines set pieces, penalties, form and price.
De Cuyper gives attacking upside from a defender slot.
That already captures Brighton without forcing the third club slot.
If you want Verbruggen as the goalkeeper, that becomes a valid triple-up — but compare the opportunity cost carefully.
Read Brighton Triple-Up FPL.
Why this version drops Gvardiol from the default XI
The earlier Wildcard framework included Gvardiol.
Friday's information changes the confidence.
The official Scout Selection prefers O'Reilly after:
- O'Reilly started the previous league match;
- Gvardiol played 90 against PSG;
- O'Reilly played only one minute in Europe. (Scout Selection)
That does not make Gvardiol a bad FPL player.
It makes him a poor default Wildcard pick when you can choose defenders with safer expected minutes.
The dedicated analysis is here: Will Gvardiol Start vs Ipswich?.
Arsenal defensive double-up
Gabriel + Calafiori gives two different strengths.
Gabriel
- start security;
- set-piece threat;
- DefCon;
- bonus route.
Calafiori
- lower price;
- box involvement;
- attacking ceiling;
- European rest before GW7.
If your budget is tight, you do not need both.
A single Arsenal defender plus De Cuyper and two value defenders is still a good structure.
Cherki: highest-risk starting midfielder
Cherki is the player in this draft most dependent on your risk tolerance.
Reasons to select:
- Manchester City attack;
- strong shot and creation numbers;
- Ipswich at home;
- explosive ceiling.
Reasons to avoid:
- rotation;
- Foden availability;
- deep City squad.
If you want more security, use the alternative section below rather than forcing Cherki.
Manzambi: upside value slot
Manzambi has moved from preseason watchlist to real differential after consecutive starts and strong recent shot volume.
He is still not completely nailed.
That makes him a Wildcard pick for managers willing to accept some risk in exchange for price and ceiling.
Read Johan Manzambi FPL.
Belloumi: the budget glue
Belloumi's role is different.
He is here because:
- his price helps the full 15;
- he has produced real FPL returns;
- his recent benching was linked to fatigue after international travel rather than a confirmed demotion;
- upcoming Brentford and Ipswich home fixtures are attractive.
Read Mohamed Belloumi FPL.
João Pedro: second forward core
João Pedro offers:
- strong current ownership;
- attacking role;
- forward-slot value;
- Chelsea exposure without spending a premium midfield slot.
He is the clearest partner to Haaland in this structure.
Barry: third forward vs 4-4-2 debate
Barry gives the draft a genuine third forward.
That matters because the third-forward slot is receiving renewed attention before GW7. (Third-forward analysis)
But Barry is not mandatory.
If you prefer four defenders or five midfielders, the money can be redistributed.
Read Best FPL Formation: 3-4-3 vs 4-4-2.
Bobby Thomas and Affengruber
These are not luxury bench picks.
They are structural pieces.
Bobby Thomas
Cheap route with:
- starts;
- DefCon potential;
- shot threat;
- useful bench cover.
Affengruber
Budget defender with an excellent defensive-contribution record and playable short-term fixtures.
A Wildcard bench should contain players who can actually replace rotation risks.
That is especially important when owning Cherki or other European-team assets.
Budget alternatives
If you are short of money
Try these in order:
- Gabriel → cheaper secure defender
- Cherki → Belloumi/Manzambi-type value and strengthen another position
- Barry → cheaper starting forward only if role is secure
- avoid weakening Haaland/Saka simply to preserve a premium defender.
If you have extra money
Priority upgrades:
- improve the backup goalkeeper only if it helps a Bench Boost plan;
- upgrade the fifth defender;
- upgrade Manzambi/Belloumi if a premium or secure midfielder clearly improves expected points;
- keep money in the bank when flexibility is more valuable.
Do not spend every £0.1m just because it exists.
What about O'Reilly?
O'Reilly is the City-defender alternative if you want to attack Ipswich.
The workload case is stronger than Gvardiol's.
The risk remains future City rotation.
On Wildcard, we prefer avoiding the uncertain slot by default.
Managers with a high-risk/high-reward style can include him.
What about a third Brighton player?
Options:
- Verbruggen;
- Vuskovic;
- another Brighton route.
The safest third is often Verbruggen because goalkeeper does not use a crowded midfield/forward slot.
But if you already have another strong goalkeeper, do not force the Brighton triple-up.
What about DCL instead of Barry?
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is one of the strongest alternatives when you want:
- a more established striker role;
- penalties;
- a medium-term forward hold.
The trade-off is price and how the rest of the squad changes.
Use Player Lab and the Transfer Planner to compare DCL vs Barry rather than choosing from one week's fixture.
Exact structure by team value
Lower team value
Prioritise:
Haaland + Saka + Groß + De Cuyper + João Pedro
Then use:
- Belloumi;
- Bobby Thomas;
- Affengruber;
- one cheaper Arsenal route if needed.
Around-average team value
Add:
- Calafiori/Gabriel;
- Cherki;
- Manzambi.
Higher team value
Do not automatically turn every value player into a premium.
Use extra value where it materially increases:
- expected minutes;
- captaincy;
- attacking role.
The cheapest good player can still be better for structure.
When NOT to Wildcard
Do not activate if your current team already has:
- Haaland;
- Saka or another premium midfield route;
- Groß/De Cuyper or comparable value;
- one or two strong defenders;
- only one or two injuries/problems.
With several banked free transfers, you may be able to reach the same core without spending the chip.
Final contingency list
Before the deadline:
If Cherki looks unlikely to start
Move to a safer midfielder rather than relying on the bench.
If Manzambi is unexpectedly doubtful
Use Belloumi in the XI and redirect the money.
If a key Arsenal defender becomes a doubt
Do not force the double-up; take the secure alternative.
If Haaland becomes a genuine doubt
The entire draft and captaincy plan must be reconsidered.
If no major news changes
Keep the structure. Do not make deadline changes purely from fear.
Internal-link workflow
- Confirm availability in Team News.
- Check current prices in Player Lab.
- Compare future runs in Fixtures.
- Build the exact 15 in Transfer Planner.
- Confirm captaincy in Captains.
OneFPL verdict
The final GW7 Wildcard should be built around:
Haaland + Saka + Groß + De Cuyper + João Pedro + Arsenal defence
Then choose the risk level:
- Cherki/Manzambi for upside;
- Belloumi/value defenders for structure;
- skip the City defensive rotation problem unless you specifically want to attack it.
The biggest change from the early draft is clear:
Gvardiol is no longer a default Wildcard defender after his 90 European minutes.
FAQ
What is the best FPL Wildcard team for Gameweek 7?
A strong final structure starts with Haaland, Saka, Groß, De Cuyper, João Pedro and Arsenal defence, then uses Cherki or a safer alternative plus value picks such as Manzambi, Belloumi, Bobby Thomas and Affengruber.
Should a GW7 Wildcard include Gvardiol?
Not by default. His 90 Champions League minutes increase rotation risk, so a Wildcard can use safer Arsenal, Brighton and DefCon defenders instead and only take the City-defender risk if the upside is worth it.
Should I triple up on Brighton on a GW7 Wildcard?
Groß plus De Cuyper is the strongest default. A third Brighton player should only be added when it improves the whole 15-man structure rather than simply completing a triple-up.
Who should be captain on a GW7 Wildcard?
Haaland is the clear captain against Ipswich. Saka is the preferred vice-captain in the final structure.