5 bargain midfielders capable of rubbing shoulders with Dream Team’s top stars this season
THERE’S no better feeling for a Dream Team manager than a bargain selection paying off handsomely.
Expensive assets such as Erling Haaland (£8.5m), Mohamed Salah (£7m) and Kieran Trippier (£6m) are all well and good but Mini Leagues are often determined by the effectiveness of the less popular, cut-price players.
With that in mind, we’ve identified five midfielders with a maximum price of £3m capable of mixing it with their more fashionable peers this season.
Eberechi Eze (£3m)
Crystal Palace’s No10 finished 2022/23 in swaggering form and he’s thoroughly enjoyed himself throughout pre-season as well.
The return of Roy Hodgson to Selhurst Park seemed to unshackle Eze’s natural talent and with Wilfried Zaha having departed, the onus will be on the 25-year-old to inspire and entertain the Eagles’ supporters.
The ex-QPR man would have amassed 222 points last season had the new scoring system been implemented and only six midfielders would have earned more bonus points.
Eze looks a great selection for Gameweek 1 as well with Palace starting against a depleted Sheffield United.
His chief co-conspirator Michael Olise (£3m) is a viable option too.
Bruno Guimaraes (£3m)
Truth be told, the Brazilian’s hot streak in front of goal the season before last was something of an anomaly.
Five goals in 40 appearances last term was a more accurate reflection of his profile but the good news is that Dream Team’s improved scoring system should recognise his overall efforts.
With points for successful tackles, big chances created and shots on target – plus bonus points determined by various other stats – well-rounded midfielders like Guimaraes could clean up.
The 25-year-old would have earned 199 points last season had the new scoring system been applied and that was without the additional European fixtures he’ll have at his disposal this time around.
Joao Palhinha (£3m)
This suggestion all boils to down to one aspect of the game: tackles.
Fulham’s resident hard man was in a league of his own in terms of midfield donkey work last season – he attempted 147 tackles in the Premier League alone.
To put that into perspective, Moises Caicedo (£2.5m) was the only other player to reach three figures (100) and only just – the Ecuador international is decent option.
Dream Team assets will receive one point for every two successful tackles (per fixture) this season, something Palhinha should benefit from more than any other player in the top flight.
In fact, he would have been more than 100 points better off last season!
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Morgan Gibbs-White (£3m)
Nottingham Forest’s No10 pulled thrice his weight to ensure his side’s Premier League survival earlier this year.
The 23-year-old produced several talismanic performances, in conjunction with Brennan Johnson (£3m), to muster 108 points but that total is revised to 185 when factoring in the new scoring system.
Gibbs-White’s tally of five goals and eight assists may appear nothing more than respectable but the underlying stats suggest he was among the best players in his position last term – he just didn’t have the necessary quality around him.
Going forward, his individual efforts will be acknowledged in greater detail.
Moussa Diaby (£3m)
If none of the established names float your boat then how about a shiny new toy?
Aston Villa’s summer signing plays predominantly from the right and while he’s categorised as a midfielder, he could just as easily be described as a wide forward.
Diaby plundered 14 goals and eleven assists in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season and that impressive tally was no fluke – he registered 31 goal involvements in 2021/22 and 25 in 2020/21.
Granted, several players have struggled to transfer their Bundesliga success to English shores but at £3m the France international may be worth a whirl.
Unai Emery’s troops finished last season strongly and they’re likely to have favourable Europa Conference League fixtures to bolster their schedule this term.