Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 10: Bukayo Saka once again essential in midfield

DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday morning to confirm their transfers for Gameweek 10.

Many will wait until Friday’s press conferences for availability updates but allow us to put forward some recommendations for the time being.

Last week we tipped Bryan Mbeumo (25 pts), Alejandro Garnacho (20 pts) and Savinho (17 pts) – let’s hope this week’s suggestions work out even half as well!

3

Bukayo Saka (£6.8m)

We usually wouldn’t bother recommending such an obvious name but, given the circumstances, Arsenal’s No7 is worthy of a mention.

Dream Team bosses have had to contend with Mikel Arteta’s mind games in relation to Saka’s availability in recent weeks.

The Spanish tactician gave an encouraging update prior to Gameweek 8 only for the England winger to miss both of the Gunners’ fixtures.

Arteta then switched it up and suggested to reporters that Saka was unlikely to feature in Gameweek 9 before the 23-year-old featured against both Liverpool and Preston.

With 113 points to his name, Saka is Dream Team’s top-performing midfielder this season and many gaffers consider him an essential asset when fit – it’s hard to disagree.

Unfortunately, Saka’s quality comes at a significant cost, he’s comfortably the most expensive player in his position.

Matheus Nunes (£3.6m)

3

We had planned to repeat our Savinho recommendation but the lively Brazilian winger was stretchered off in midweek and is likely to be sidelined until the international break at the earliest.

Fingers crossed he returns sooner rather than later.

For the meantime, how about another Manchester City midfielder on the rise?

The defending champions’ injury crisis meant Nunes played almost the full 180 minutes in Gameweek 9 and he capitalised to a great extent.

The Portugal international took Southampton and Spurs for a combined 21 points, making him one of the top performers of the Gameweek.

Nunes is quietly averaging a goal involvement every 67.3 minutes in all competitions this season.

The 0.7%-owned midfielder should get plenty of minutes again in Gameweek 10 with City set to face Bournemouth and Sporting CP.

Darwin Nunez (£4.2m)

3

Some may see this suggestion as overly outlandish but allow us to make a case for the enigmatic Uruguayan.

Firstly, he should be assured minutes in Gameweek 10 while Diogo Jota (£4.5m) continues his rehabilitation from injury.

Secondly, Liverpool have the luxury of back-to-back home games with Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen set to visit Anfield in the coming days.

The Reds boast such a formidable home record that it might be worth doubling up on their starting forwards – let’s be clear, Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) remains the priority selection but nobody needs to hear that from us.

Nunez can be a frustrating Dream Team asset to own as he’s far from the most composed finisher in the world but his chaotic style causes serious problems for Liverpool’s opponents when everything clicks.

He recently banked a combined 16 points from games against RB Leipzig and Arsenal, relatively tough fixtures on paper.

Predicting Luis Diaz (£4.3m) and Cody Gakpo’s (£4m) minutes is not all that easy right now and so Nunez might be a smart option to accompany Salah, for the next two Gameweeks at least.

---