Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 15: Midfielder owned by 0.7% of gaffers now a tempting differential
FIXTURES continue to flow thick and fast in Gameweek 15.
After a full round of Premier League games this weekend, eight teams will be in action again in midweek as the European group stages draw to a close.
Needless to say, there will be plenty of points on offer for Dream Team gaffers if they get their transfers right.
Allow us to provide some recommendations…
Leon Bailey (£3m)
The man of the hour!
A few eyebrows were raised when Unai Emery promoted the Jamaican winger to start over Moussa Diaby (£3.6m) this past week but the decision could not have been more justified.
Bailey scored against Bournemouth on Sunday but that proved to be just a warm-up for his match-winning heroics at home to Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old banked 19 points across the two fixtures and will surely keep his place as first-choice right winger for the foreseeable future.
Here’s the really interesting bit; Bailey averages 1.32 goal involvements per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.
That puts him above Erling Haaland (£8.1m), Mohamed Salah (£6.8m) and every other player to have played at least 500 minutes in the top flight this season.
The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder appears in just 0.7% of teams right now but with Villa flying high in third, his ownership will surely rise sharply.
The Villains host league-leaders Arsenal on Saturday but having outplayed the treble winners in midweek, there’s no need for gaffers to worry about Bailey and company’s fixtures – they’ve got a Europa Conference League game against Zrinjski Mostar to fulfil on Thursday night too.
At the very least, he’s a tempting differential.
Martin Dubravka (£1.6m)
Last week, we suggested Caoimhin Kelleher (£1.9m) as a cheap route into Liverpool’s starting line-up as a result of Alisson’s (£3.7m) injury.
This tactic looked silly when Fulham scored three goals at Anfield on Sunday but thankfully the Irish deputy compensated with a clean sheet at Sheffield United in midweek.
Dream Team managers have the opportunity to repeat the same trick ahead of Gameweek 15 with even greater legs.
Nick Pope (£4.2m) became the first goalkeeper to reach 100 points this season when he kept Manchester United at bay last Saturday but celebrations were cut short when the England international dislocated his shoulder late on.
Newcastle’s first-choice custodian is expected to be sidelined for at least four months, opening the door for Dubravka to take the gloves.
There’s a chance the club may spend money on another keeper in January but the veteran Slovak will be given the opportunity to prove himself this month.
The 34-year-old may find points hard to come in Gameweek 15 as Eddie Howe’s men are set to face Tottenham and AC Milan but the schedule turns friendly from Gameweek 16 until the end of the year: Fulham, Chelsea, Luton, Nottingham Forest.
Dream Team bosses should think of Dubravka is a facilitator, recruiting him for just £1.6m this week may mean it’s possible to afford both Kieran Trippier (£5.2m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.6m) in defence, for example.
Speaking of…
Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.6m)
We’ve talked up Liverpool’s homegrown hero enough recently but his name is worth underlining after an emphatic Gameweek 14.
Playing a hybrid role that’s more midfielder than defender, Alexander-Arnold registered two assists, one goal and a clean sheet across his two fixtures, Fulham and Sheffield United.
When all was said and done, The Reds’ No66 had plundered 24 points – the biggest haul of the Gameweek among all players at the time of writing.
Some Dream Team bosses will feel that transferring him in now is a case of bolted horses and sailed ships.
Chasing lost points is foolish but, equally, hopping aboard an in-form asset as talented as Alexander-Arnold could yield healthy returns for months on end.
Liverpool face Crystal Palace and Union Saint-Gilloise in Gameweek 15.
It should go without saying that Manchester City stars are expected to shine bright in Gameweek 15 with Luton and Red Star Belgrade in the headlights.
Although gaffers should be aware that their midweek game is essentially a dead rubber because Pep Guardiola’s side are already guaranteed to finish top of their Champions League group – heavy rotation is expected.
Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.
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