3 players capable of ensuring mini-league glory for Dream Team gaffers in May
THIS coming Friday will be the first of the month which means only one thing: Dream Team transfers.
Gaffers will have their transfers replenished in the morning, allowing them to make changes prior to Game Week 33 if they so wish.
The season does spill over into June with the FA Cup showdown between the Manchester clubs and European finals that could potentially feature Premier League teams schedule but the vast majority of the remaining Dream Team eligible fixtures will take place before the end of May.
With that in mind, we’ve identified three players (aside from the obvious candidates) we believe are capable of ensuring mini-league glory in the coming weeks…
Jarrod Bowen (£4.1m)
Given all the drama of the domestic campaign, it would be easy for Dream Team bosses to overlook the fact West Ham have a European semi-final in the diary.
The Hammers will take on AZ Alkmaar, currently fourth in the Eredivisie, in a two-legged Europa Conference League affair that ensures they’re busier than most from Game Week 33 onwards.
Their No20 may have blanked in his last two outings but with 134 points to his name he’s been the best performer in the squad this term.
Bowen may not have replicated his extraordinary efforts of 2021/22 but 11 goals, nine assists and six Star Man awards represents an impressive haul considering how David Moyes’ side have performed collectively.
It’s not just the additional European fixtures that make the 26-year-old a viable option this month, his domestic fixtures are relatively friendly too.
Granted, he faces Manchester City tonight and Manchester United on Sunday but after that his remaining league opponents are Brentford, Leeds and Leicester.
Manuel Akanji (£4.5m)
Let’s get it straight, Man City are the team to back to the hilt from hereon out.
While some teams have just four fixtures left to fulfil at the time of writing, Pep Guardiola’s side could be in action nine more times if they make it to the Champions League final.
This sheer volume of games combined with the team’s unrelenting form has once again created a Dream Team behemoth.
There’s no point highlighting the virtues of Erling Haaland (£10.2m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£8.4m) as they’re already immensely popular but City’s Swiss defender has an ownership of just 5.8%.
Akanji has proved to be very useful purchase for Guardiola as he’s occasionally filled in at right-back and left-back when not in his more familiar central role.
The former Borussia Dortmund man is far from the Etihad’s most glamorous asset but all Dream Team bosses should consider is his game time and potential returns.
He’s only missed just one of City’s last 30 games and he’s earned 48 points across the last nine Game Weeks.
Guardiola is prone to tactical tweaks but it would highly unusual for the decorated tactician to suddenly discard Akanji as the season reaches its climax.
Real Madrid are a formidable foe in the Champions League semi-finals but the defending English champions face Leeds, Everton and Chelsea around those European clashes, three teams in woeful form.
Solly March (£4.7m)
Brighton have more Premier League fixtures remaining this season than any other team.
The Seagulls host Man United tomorrow night and then have six games to fulfil after May’s transfers become available – two more than Arsenal, Spurs, Aston Villa and a host of other clubs.
Roberto De Zerbi’s enterprising approach has ensured a steady stream of points for his midfield unit and while Kaoru Mitoma (£4.6m) is the most popular selection, the Japanese winger has recently been overtaken by March in the rankings.
Brighton’s long-serving No7 now has 147 points to Mitoma’s 142 having added 53 to his total in his last nine outings.
March has provided nine assists, scored seven goals and claimed six Star Man awards in 2022/23.
Granted, his fixtures, though voluminous, contain some tough match-ups.
March faces Arsenal, Newcastle, Man City and Aston Villa before all is said and done but the thing about De Zerbi’s side is that they can give anyone a game on their day.
Stay clear of Brighton defenders but there should be more returns for March, Mitoma and company in attack.