THT FPL Top Transfer Recommendations: Gameweek 19

The Hard Tackle lists the five best options to consider to bring into your team heading into FPL Gameweek 19 of the 2025/26 season.

FPL managers heading into Gameweek 19 find themselves at an interesting crossroads. The frantic early-season scramble is over, template squads are starting to harden, and every transfer now feels like it carries double weight: can it win this week and also set up the next month?

In a round where most managers will instinctively flock to the usual big-name premiums, there is a clear edge to be had in looking one tier below, at players whose roles are growing, whose fixtures are quietly excellent, and whose ownership is still low enough to make a real difference.​ That is where this Gameweek 19 discussion really begins.

Newcastle United at Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion at a struggling West Ham United, Liverpool hosting a defensively vulnerable Leeds United, and Manchester United welcoming the dreadful Wolves; these are not just TV headlines, they are potential turning points in mini-leagues.

Hidden inside those fixtures are five names who look tailor-made for aggressive FPL managers willing to jump a week early rather than react a week late: Lewis Hall, Patrick Dorgu, Diego Gomez, Florian Wirtz, and Benjamin Sesko. Each offers a different route; clean-sheet upside, out-of-position attacking potential, advanced midfield roles, or a classic “buy the breakout” striker punt.

The appeal is not just about one isolated game. Burnley and West Ham have looked defensively shaky, leaking chances and failing to string consistent performances together, which keeps the door open for attacking defenders and midfielders to step up. Wolves, meanwhile, are still searching for balance at both ends of the pitch, leaving space both for Manchester United’s wide players to get high and for a physically dominant striker like Sesko to finally stamp his authority on the league.

Taken together, Gameweek 19 feels like the kind of round that can punish passive managers. Those who sit still might be fine; those who move for the right upside picks could suddenly be ten, twenty, or even thirty points clear by the time the final whistle blows at Molineux and Elland Road. With that in mind, here is a deep dive into why these five players are so well-placed to be your transfer-ins this week.

Lewis Hall: Newcastle United’s attacking outlet

Newcastle United against Burnley immediately screams defensive potential, but Lewis Hall’s value this week goes beyond the clean-sheet narrative. The left-back has grown into a much larger role for the Tyneside outfit, taking on more attacking responsibility and even splitting set-piece duty in recent weeks, which is gold for a defender in FPL terms.

Hall has attempted 13 corners and has completed 90 minutes in Newcastle’s last four matches in all competitions, underlining that he is trusted and heavily involved in the build-up. This kind of volume in advanced areas is exactly what turns a simple “defensive pick” into a genuine two-way asset.

Burnley, on the other hand, have struggled badly for consistency this season. Their attack blows hot and cold, and they have found it difficult to sustain pressure against more organised back lines, which often leaves them isolated and vulnerable to counters.

That works perfectly for a full-back like Hall, who thrives when Newcastle United dominate the territory and can pin opponents back for long stretches. Statistically, he already has a record of end product, with four assists in a previous campaign and a strong underlying profile as a progressive passer and crosser from wide areas.

For FPL managers, the recent history is encouraging: Hall has quietly put together a steady stream of points through minutes, clean sheets in good fixtures, and the odd attacking spike when his corners or open-play crosses find a teammate. In a fixture against a shaky Burnley side, the platform is there for both a clean sheet and attacking returns.

Patrick Dorgu: defensive pick with FPL upside

Patrick Dorgu feels like the type of player who goes from “who is this?” to “how did everyone suddenly own him?” in the space of two or three rounds. The Manchester United defender has already shown he can decide big matches, scoring a superb left-footed volley against Newcastle United to earn his team a crucial 1-0 win and lift them into the European places.

Crucially for FPL, Dorgu is not just a static full-back, he operates as an aggressive wing-back in Ruben Amorim’s system and has the athletic profile to push high up the pitch, almost resembling a winger at times.​ That attacking licence matters a lot against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves have struggled to find rhythm at both ends of the pitch this season, lacking consistent creativity in the final third while also conceding too many chances when pressed into their own half. A Manchester United side that now relies heavily on wide overloads will naturally funnel plenty of play through Dorgu’s flank, giving him opportunities not only for a clean sheet but also for contributions in the final third.

While his FPL points history is still building, the key trend is his involvement: regular starts, a recent match-winning goal, and growing confidence in advanced areas. For managers, that is exactly the profile you look for when hunting for a defender who can play like a winger in the right game state.

Diego Gomez: advanced Brighton weapon vs West Ham

Diego Gomez’s appeal as an FPL midfielder in Gameweek 19 rests on two pillars: his role and his opponent. Brighton & Hove Albion use him high up the pitch, either as an attacking midfielder or a wide forward, and the numbers reflect that advanced positioning. Gomez has scored three goals in 16 Premier League matches this season, with his non-penalty xG per 90 sitting at 0.29, a mark that places him among the better chance-getters in the division from midfield.

The Paraguayan international takes close to two shots per 90 and has hit 21 attempts already, almost half of them on target, which shows that he is regularly getting into dangerous areas rather than relying on long-range hits.​ Brighton facing West Ham only boosts his appeal further.

The Hammers have looked defensively fragile for long spells of the campaign, conceding chances both through the middle and when forced to defend wide spaces, which is exactly where a high, aggressive midfielder like Gomez can hurt them.

His recent points pattern tells a familiar story: steady minutes, a couple of key goal returns, and underlying metrics that suggest there is more to come if Brighton’s attack really clicks. For FPL managers who like to back process over short-term luck, Gomez’s blend of advanced role and underlying numbers makes him a low-ownership midfield punt with genuine haul potential this week.​

Florian Wirtz: waiting for the dam to break

Florian Wirtz’s name alone carries a certain excitement, and his Liverpool spell is starting to show why he was so highly rated across Europe. While he has only recently got his first league goal for the club, his overall attacking involvement has been quietly impressive.

In the Premier League this season, Wirtz has featured heavily, registering around 20 shots and a healthy number of key passes, while advanced metrics show strong non-penalty xG and high volume in opposition box touches and dribbles. In other words, he is often right at the heart of Liverpool’s attacking moves, even when the final touch or assist does not fall his way.

Gameweek 19 brings a home game against Leeds United, and that match-up looks attractive on paper for Wirtz. The Whites have been defensively vulnerable, conceding multiple goals in high-tempo matches and struggling to contain teams that can shift the ball quickly between the lines.

Wirtz’s recent match log shows him playing significant minutes across attacking roles, as a central creator, a left-sided forward, and even in deeper positions when required. However, his most productive outings have come when he is allowed to drift between the half-spaces and get shots off from just outside or inside the box.

With confidence boosted by his first Liverpool goal and a run of starts, his recent FPL points may still look modest, but the platform is clearly there for a bigger return in a fixture that suits his strengths perfectly.

Benjamin Sesko: the breakout FPL punt

Benjamin Sesko’s FPL appeal ahead of Gameweek 19 is more about timing than past returns. On paper, the Slovenian forward has only two goals and one assist from 14 Premier League outings for Manchester United thus far, a record that will not turn many casual heads.

But those numbers also mask the context: a player being eased into a new league, often limited to partial minutes, and still managing to show flashes of the physical presence and penalty-box threat that made him such a coveted signing in the first place. Wolves at Old Trafford feels like the kind of fixture that can flip the narrative.

The Black Country outfit’s defensive record has been patchy, and they have occasionally struggled to deal with dominant, athletic centre-forwards who can attack crosses and win duels in the box. Sesko, standing at 195cm and already used as a focal point when United need to go more direct, fits that mould perfectly.

For FPL managers, the upside is obvious: if he starts and Manchester United get on top, this could be the week where his underlying promise finally translates into a double-digit haul, and anyone who bought in early suddenly has a long-term striker option at a relatively cheap price and modest ownership.

FPL transfer recommendations at a glance

Honourable mentions

Beyond the core five, a handful of other names merit a place on the watchlist for Gameweek 19 and beyond. Michael Keane offers classic centre-back value when Everton’s fixtures turn kinder, with his threat from set pieces always a factor. Maxim De Cuyper and Lewis Miley both fit the “emerging value” category, young players with growing roles who could become budget enablers if their minutes stay secure.

Manchester City duo Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders bring flair and creativity from midfield zones, the sort of players who can explode with points when a system finally clicks around them. Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Raul Jimenez remain experienced options capable of short hot streaks, especially when the fixtures align and their teams generate enough service in the box.