Updated for GW7. Mohamed Belloumi is no longer a £5.0m one-week differential after a Chelsea brace. He has risen to around £5.2m, accumulated 37 FPL points, and is appearing directly in OneFPL's Google Search Console queries. The main question now is whether the recent benching changes his role.
The short answer
Belloumi remains BUYABLE as a budget midfielder.
The benching should not automatically be read as a loss of place.
Current team-news coverage says he was rested after international travel, and he still scored as a substitute. (Premier League GW7 Challenge analysis)
Current player data lists him around:
- £5.2m
- 37 points
- 3 goals
- 2 assists
- roughly 7% ownership
- 420 league minutes before GW7
That is enough evidence to treat him as a genuine budget FPL asset, not simply a punt.
What changed since the Chelsea brace
The earlier OneFPL article was written after Belloumi scored twice at Stamford Bridge.
At that point the questions were:
- was the haul repeatable?
- would he keep starting?
- was £5.0m too cheap to ignore?
We now have more information.
He has continued returning points, his price has risen, and official FPL coverage has highlighted his recent output.
The page should therefore move from "watch after a brace" to "is the role strong enough to buy?"
Latest FPL news
Why the recent bench matters
Managers understandably worry when a budget midfielder suddenly drops out of the XI.
But context matters.
The current explanation is fatigue after international travel, not a confirmed tactical demotion. (Premier League analysis)
That is very different from:
- losing the position to a teammate;
- being dropped after poor form;
- carrying an injury;
- becoming a permanent substitute.
He also scored after coming on, which keeps pressure on the manager to use him.
Is Belloumi nailed?
Not enough to call him completely nailed.
The stronger description is:
favoured attacking option with a recent fatigue-related benching that still needs one more start to remove doubt.
This matters because a £5.2m midfielder does not need to be a 90-minute premium.
But he does need enough starts to be useful in:
- Wildcard squads;
- fifth-midfielder rotations;
- Schade replacements;
- two-transfer structures.
Upcoming fixtures
Belloumi's next run includes:
| Gameweek | Fixture | FPL view |
|---|---|---|
| GW7 | Fulham (A) | Playable |
| GW8 | Brentford (H) | Attractive |
| GW9 | Ipswich (H) | Very attractive |
| GW10 | Arsenal (A) | Difficult |
| GW11 | Brighton (H) | Mixed |
This is a useful schedule for a budget midfielder because you are not buying only one fixture.
GW8 and GW9 are particularly relevant for managers building a medium-term bench rotation.
Use Fixtures to compare the run with Manzambi and other cheap mids.
Why £5.2m matters
The main attraction is not that Belloumi is expected to outscore Saka or Groß.
It is what his price can unlock.
For example:
- Belloumi instead of a £7m midfielder can fund an Arsenal defender.
- Belloumi can free cash for João Pedro or another forward.
- He can allow a stronger second goalkeeper/bench for Bench Boost plans.
- He can make a Haaland + Saka structure easier.
That is why the correct comparison is often:
Belloumi + upgrade elsewhere vs more expensive midfielder + weak slot.
Use the Transfer Planner to compare those combinations.
Belloumi vs Manzambi
This is likely to become a recurring FPL search.
| Factor | Belloumi | Manzambi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Cheaper | More expensive |
| Current FPL points | Stronger accumulated total | Smaller sample |
| Recent returns | Proven | Emerging |
| Shot-based upside | Good | Stronger recent spike |
| Minutes evidence | More history, one fatigue bench | Two recent starts |
| Best for | Budget structure | Aggressive upside |
Choose Belloumi when
- every £0.1m matters;
- you need a fifth/fourth midfielder who can still return;
- you want the Brentford/Ipswich home fixtures;
- the saving improves another position.
Choose Manzambi when
- budget is less restrictive;
- you want more recent shot volume;
- you are comfortable with a smaller minutes sample.
Read Johan Manzambi FPL.
Belloumi vs Groß
These players serve different purposes.
Groß is the stronger standalone FPL pick.
Belloumi is the stronger budget unlock.
If you can afford Groß without weakening another slot, Groß is the safer route.
If moving to Belloumi turns a weak defender/forward into a major upgrade, the combined move can be better.
Should Schade owners move to Belloumi?
Yes, he belongs on the shortlist.
Schade's fitness uncertainty makes cheap-midfield alternatives more important.
Belloumi offers:
- lower price;
- current returns;
- usable fixtures;
- enough attacking involvement to be more than a bench placeholder.
But if Schade is declared fit and your squad has no other problem, do not transfer simply because Belloumi rose in price.
Is the price rise a reason to buy now?
No.
Price changes matter only after the football decision is correct.
Belloumi's rise from his earlier price shows the market is noticing him, but:
- do not buy before team news only to save £0.1m;
- do not take a hit solely because he may rise;
- do not ignore the recent benching context.
Use FPL Market for the live movement after deciding you actually want the player.
Start or bench in GW7?
Against Fulham away, Belloumi is playable.
Start him over:
- non-attacking defenders with difficult fixtures;
- midfielders with doubtful minutes;
- low-ceiling bench enablers.
Bench him behind:
- premium attackers;
- strong City/Arsenal/Brighton starters;
- secure players with clearly better fixtures.
The exact decision should come from your squad, not a generic ranking.
What would change the verdict?
Upgrade to BUY with higher confidence if:
- he returns to the starting XI;
- plays 70+ minutes;
- keeps an advanced role.
Downgrade if:
- the bench role repeats without a travel/fatigue explanation;
- his minutes fall sharply;
- another attacker clearly moves ahead.
OneFPL verdict
Belloumi is one of the better budget midfielders because the price is doing real work for squad structure while the player is still producing.
The latest benching looks more like a workload event than a permanent role loss.
Current ranking:
BUYABLE / strong budget option — recheck expected start.
If choosing between him and Manzambi:
- Belloumi for budget and accumulated returns;
- Manzambi for aggressive shot-volume upside.
FAQ
Is Mohamed Belloumi a good FPL buy for Gameweek 7?
He is a strong budget option if you need a £5.2m midfielder with proven recent returns. His recent benching was linked to fatigue after international travel rather than a confirmed loss of place.
Why was Belloumi benched in the last match?
Current team-news reporting says he needed a rest after international travel. He still scored from the bench, so the omission should not automatically be treated as a permanent role change.
Belloumi or Manzambi in FPL?
Belloumi is cheaper and has more accumulated FPL returns; Manzambi has the stronger recent shot-volume case. Belloumi suits managers prioritising budget, while Manzambi is the more aggressive upside pick.
