DECEMBER is often the most-expensive month of the year for many so what better time to shine a light on the best value-for-money Dream Team assets?
Here we’ve identified four players, one from each position, who are mixing it at the top of the rankings with the expensive big-hitters despite starting at a bargain price.
Let’s start from the back…
Aaron Ramsdale (£3.1m)
Arsenal’s new fan favourite was added to Dream Team at just £2.0m when he signed from Sheffield United in the summer.
That’s because the 23-year-old was initially a back-up option to Bernd Leno (£3.2m).
However, the England international quickly established himself as first-choice keeper at the German’s expense and has played a key role in the Gunners’ significant upturn in form since September.
Ramsdale is currently the second-best player in his position and, after a clean sheet at Carrow Road, is now just eight points behind leader Edouard Mendy (£4.2m).
The Stoke-born stopper was featured in Jamie Carragher’s Team of the Season so far and the Dream Team statistics suggest the ex-Liverpool defender was right to single him out for special praise.
Trevor Chalobah (£3.9m)
Chelsea have only kept two clean sheets in their last nine fixtures but they racked up so many in the first third of the campaign that half of the top sixteen defenders are Stamford Bridge residents.
While Reece James (£6.2m), Thiago Silva (£5.0m) and Antonio Rudiger (£4.6m) have been the standout performers, their returns have come at a hefty price.
However, Chalobah started the season at just £2.5m and is currently level with Ruben Dias (£4.6m) on 86 points as the joint-seventh best defender in the game.
The 22-year-old has started just 14 games this season but his points total has been bolstered by three goals and a Star Man award.
Far from a certain starter, the Cobham graduate has an ownership of just 2.4% but those bold enough to back him when he was dirt-cheap have been handsomely rewarded.
Bernardo Silva (£3.6m)
It seems absolutely ludicrous now that Manchester City’s No20 was priced at just £3.0m prior to Game Week 1.
Aside from Mohamed Salah (£8.4m), Bernardo has arguably been the standout individual this season as the spiritual leader of City’s relentless attacking unit.
The Portuguese playmaker has scored seven league goals already this season, levelling his best-ever Premier League campaign with more than half the games left to play.
Riyad Mahrez (£6.3m) may be the outright best midfielder with 129 points but Bernardo’s tally of 94 is mightily impressive when you consider he’s a full £3.0m cheaper than his Algerian team-mate.
The 27-year-old may have only produced five points in his last four outings but five double-figure Game Week hauls have already made one of the biggest heroes of the Dream Team season.
Emmanuel Dennis (£2.5m)
Speaking of Dream Team heroes, how about a £1.5m asset with eight goals and five assists by Game Week 17?
Watford’s Nigerian forward has been one of the stories of the season and had 72 points to show for his efforts at this stage – no other player priced at £2.5m or cheaper has more than 54 points.
The Hornets’ defence is extremely vulnerable but they have a chance of Premier League survival thanks to Dennis and his supporting cast in attack.
The 24-year-old currently has more points than Phil Foden (£5.6m), Kevin De Bruyne (£5.7m), Romelu Lukaku (£5.6m) and plenty more players who are nearly three times as costly.
Most read in Dream Team
BRUNO KO
GIMME MOUR
CITY SLICKER
BOTTOM UP
COVID CHAOS
ON THE RAZZ
Source: Read Full Article