Who is better: Bruno Fernandes or Cole Palmer?
We break down whether Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m) of Man Utd or Chelsea star Cole Palmer (£10.5m) will prove the better FPL purchase heading into Gameweek 1 of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Whilst Cole Palmer did ensure a frustrating streak down the stretch last season where he failed to register a Premier League attacking return, the Chelsea star’s FPL productivity was still significantly higher than that of Bruno Fernandes. Palmer racked up double digits in both Premier League goals and assists with 25 attacking returns overall.
Fernandes ended last season with eight goals and 12 assists, whilst the Portuguese international’s xGI (expected goal involvements) was 17.8, meaning he outperformed his metrics. Palmer underperformed compared to his xGI of 26.3, which bodes well for the upcoming campaign.
Palmer is coming off the back of a hugely successful Club World Cup which saw him win the Golden Ball after recording five attacking returns, the joint-most across the tournament. The midfielder also finished joint-first for chances created from open play (11) and second for number of shots taken (21).
Chelsea begins the season with three London derbies including Crystal Palace first up, but avoid any ‘big six’ clashes, whilst Man Utd start at home to Arsenal before a tricky trip to Fulham. Fernandes may be a key talisman for the Red Devils, but Palmer’s FPL ceiling in Gameweek 1 appears to be higher, justifying the additional cost.
Verdict: Cole Palmer (£10.5m)
