FEBRUARY sees the return of the European competitions, the continuation of the FA Cup, and the culmination of the Carabao Cup, not to mention the bread and butter of the Premier League.
More than ever, Dream Team gaffers need to make sure their XIs are in tip-top shape.
With that in mind, allow us to humbly propose three transfer recommendations.
OUT: Andy Robertson (£4.2m), IN: Luke Shaw (£3.9m)
3
Liverpool are in a right pickle at the moment, so much so that their 3-0 defeat to Wolves at the weekend didn’t come as much of a surprise.
The Reds’ first-choice left-back has provided more than his fair share of points in recent years but he’s mustered just 42 this season.
The extensive list of defenders with more points than Robertson this term includes: Lewis Dunk (£2m), Ryan Sessegnon (£2.3m), Tim Ream (£2.2m), Serge Aurier (£2.6m) and Ben Johnson (£3.4m).
Scotland’s captain remains more popular than Dan Burn (£4.8m) even though Newcastle’s big man is the third-best asset in his position!
Chances are Robertson will come strong again in the future but he’s one of several Liverpool players who simply aren’t worth sticking by during this funk.
In contrast, Manchester United’s results have been categorically encouraging in recent months.
Currently third in the league and set to recommence European commitments against Barcelona in the Europa League, there are plenty of points to be had backing the Red Devils.
After a flurry of minus points at the start of the campaign, Shaw has amassed 94 across the last 13 Game Weeks.
Lisandro Martinez (£4.6m) may also appeal for those keen on this tactic.
OUT: Miguel Almiron (£3.4m), IN: Martin Odegaard (£3.4m)
3
Almiron’s brief transformation into a Gareth Bale/Thierry Henry hybrid was fun while it lasted but the Paraguayan winger has seemingly returned to normality.
Having scored seven goals in as many games earlier in the season, he’s now without a goal in his last nine appearances and his underlying numbers have dropped off a cliff too.
The 28-year-old has produced 12 points in his last nine games whereas Odegaard has amassed 52 in the same time frame.
Admittedly, Arsenal’s skipper has blanked three times in a row recently but with eight goals and five assists to his name he’s been one of the standout Premier League players this season.
The Gunners don’t recommence their European campaign until next month but they’ve got four fixtures still to fulfil this month which means their assets are busy enough.
Eddie Howe’s side play three times before the start of March and one of those is the Carabao Cup final against Man United.
OUT: Aleksandar Mitrovic (£4.6m), IN: Son Heung-min (£5.1m)
3
A big call here.
On the surface, Fulham’s No9 is enjoying a fantastic season while the South Korean superstar is enduring perhaps his worst time in English football.
While that’s true to a certain extent, every Dream Team manager knows that form can be painfully fleeting.
Since the start of Game Week 16, Mitrovic has mustered just one point while Son has pouched 27.
There have been signs in the last two or three outings that Tottenham’s No7 is shaking off his slump which should put gaffers on alert.
Son is a Dream Team phenomenon when at his best and it’s telling that he’s the sixth-best forward in the game currently despite having been mostly below par.
If the 30-year-old is truly on the rise then this transfer could be extremely well timed but gaffers will need a little extra cash in the bank to make it work.
