West Ham United continue their 2024/25 Premier League campaign when they host Leicester City under the lights at London Stadium this Thursday – and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers will be casting an eye over the Hammers ahead of Gameweek 27.
The Irons took a big step towards a return to their best form against Arsenal, where Jarrod Bowen reached a half-century of top-flight goals in Claret and Blue. His goal helped to secure back-to-back away wins over the Gunners for the first time since 2007 after a diligent, disciplined and brave performance.
Next up comes the visit of the Foxes, who are fighting to escape relegation this season. While Leicester were thumped 4-0 at home by Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, West Ham will be wary of the threats posed by a side who won the reverse fixture 3-1 back in December at King Power Stadium despite us having 31 goal attempts on the night, our highest tally on record (since 2005/06) in a single Premier League fixture.
There are still hundreds of FPL points up for grabs for managers who make the correct line-up decisions between now and the final Gameweek 38 deadline on Saturday 24 May. The Gameweek 27 transfer deadline is set for 6pm on Tuesday 25 February, ahead of a mouth-watering feast of weekend action that begins on Tuesday.
While we will be giving you FPL tips and tricks throughout the remainder of the 2024/25 season on whufc.com, see below for some of our picks for the upcoming round.
Before we name names, don't forget to join the Official West Ham United FPL League by entering the code tezfax...
Areola to shut out the Foxes?
The display of West Ham United’s Alphonse Areola (£4.2m) at Emirates Stadium on Saturday showed many managers that he’s a budget goalkeeper who offers multiple routes to returns.
On top of the shutout, Areola also registered two saves as well, and became just the third goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners in 2024/25. This resulted in the Frenchman scoring a tally of six points in Gameweek 26.
Areola, who has made 46 saves in his 15 Premier League appearances this season, could be set for consecutive clean sheets against Leicester City. The visitors have failed to score in eight of their past eleven games, and have scored the third fewest goals this season (25). Only Southampton (19) and Ipswich Town (24) have scored less.
At right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£4.5m) has stood out as one of the best in his position in the league and remains West Ham United’s highest-scoring defender with 77 FPL points, while only Tomáš Souček (79) and Jarrod Bowen (112) are above him in the West Ham ranks.
According to statistics, Wan-Bissaka is having his best season offensively since 2020/21, with two goals and two assists. He provided the assist for Bowen’s decisive goal on Saturday, and, of any West Ham defender this season, he has the most bonus points by far with nine (Maximilian Kilman is next on five).
Bowen (£7.3m) hit another Premier League milestone in Claret and Blue on Saturday, becoming just the second player in the competition's history to score 50 goals for the Club.
He has amassed 22 points across his last three encounters since his return from injury, thanks to two goals. That includes strikes against both Chelsea and Arsenal.
Leicester’s struggles in defence, meanwhile, further add to the West Ham captain's appeal. They haven’t kept a single clean sheet in any of their 12 away matches, conceding 32 goals.
If you fancy taking a gamble, why not bet on Ollie Scarles (£4.0m) scoring or assisting against the Foxes?
Scarles registered his first Premier League start in Claret and Blue last time out against Arsenal, where the left wing-back registered an impressive seven-point haul after his stellar display.
Following his performance in north London, Head Coach Potter could well call upon the 19-year-old from the start again on Thursday.
Opposition Watch: Leicester City
Leicester forward Jamie Vardy (£5.4m) is a perennial nuisance for West Ham United’s defence, and could be set to be a popular pick for Gameweek 27.
Vardy is the Foxes most-bought player ahead of the Tuesday deadline, moved in by over five per cent of managers ahead of their trip to London Stadium. He faces the Hammers on the back of a goal and a four-point return in the teams’ reverse meeting in December, while his 94 points amassed are more than any other teammate's by a wide margin. The veteran striker is his team's top scorer in the league this season with seven in total.
Bilal El Khannouss (£4.8m) has been something to smile about this season for the Foxes.
The 20-year-old is exciting to watch, and his forward-thinking style of play has impressed Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has started him in every Premier League game since his arrival in November, while in the reverse meeting in December, he recorded a season-high points total of 14 with a goal and assist.
If you are looking for a rotatable, budget forward player, then El Khannouss is a potential option.
Elsewhere, Denmark international full-back Victor Kristiansen (£4.4m), who ranks among the best in the Premier League for crosses into the opposition’s area, will look to add to his one assist at London Stadium.
