Major deadline update — 9 October 2026. This page now reflects Friday's final GW6 press conferences and official deadline analysis.
Palmer is available.
That is the single most important update.
Captaincy
Bournemouth at home puts Palmer back into the main armband conversation.
He still ranks behind Saka and Haaland for OneFPL, but the gap is now football-related rather than injury-related.
Underlying data
Palmer has:
- 12 shots in the box;
- two big chances;
- four big chances created.
The FPL points have not fully reflected that all-round involvement.
Wildcard
He is now a real premium choice rather than an injury placeholder.
Compare:
- Saka;
- Bruno;
- Palmer;
- the savings from a mid-price structure.
Start/Sit
If you own Palmer, start him.
A fit premium at home to Bournemouth should not be benched because of an old injury flag.
Transfer-market context
Palmer has been one of the most-sold players ahead of GW6.
Friday's update shows why managers should avoid treating transfer trends as permanent truth.
OneFPL verdict
Fitness concern cleared. Premium status restored.
Captaincy is viable, Wildcard ownership is viable and owners should not sell purely because of the old flag.
FAQ
Is Palmer fit?
Yes. Chelsea say he has trained and is ready.
Can he captain?
Yes. Bournemouth at home puts him back into the conversation.
Should Wildcard managers buy?
He is a strong option, but still compare price and structure with Saka and cheaper midfielders.
How to use this update before the deadline
There are three different manager situations.
You already own the player
Do not confuse a bad fixture with an injury decision. If the player is confirmed available, judge him normally on expected minutes, role and fixture. If he is confirmed out, compare the cost of a transfer with the quality of your first substitute.
You are on Wildcard
You have no obligation to carry uncertainty. A Wildcard should usually prefer a fit player unless the flagged option has exceptional upside and a clear near-term return.
You are a fresh buyer
Wait for the strongest evidence available. A cheap price or recent points haul is not enough if expected minutes are unclear.
OneFPL workflow
Use Team News for availability, Player Lab for the underlying role, Fixtures for the next run and the Transfer Planner to check whether the move creates another problem next week.
The goal is not to predict the medical outcome. The goal is to make the best FPL decision with the information that is actually confirmed.