Transfer suggestions ahead of Gameweek 2: Eberechi Eze, Diogo Jota and other appealing options

DREAM TEAM managers have until 11am on Saturday to confirm any transfers they wish to make ahead of Gameweek 2.

Many gaffers will be using their two alloted transfers to correct any errors that came to light during the first round of Premier League fixtures.

All 20 Premier League clubs showed their hands to some extent in Gameweek 1 and Dream Team bosses should now have a clearer understanding of the pecking orders across the land.

Dream Team

Eze and Jota should be popular recruits before Saturday’s deadline[/caption]

Naturally, we can’t provide transfer suggestions for everyone’s specific teams but allow us to put forward some general recommendations using logic that can be applied elsewhere.

And we won’t condescend anyone by listing blindingly obvious names such as Erling Haaland (£8.5m), Bukayo Saka (£6m) and Mohamed Salah (£7m).

Eberechi Eze (£4.5m)

Crystal Palace’s talisman was incredibly unlucky not to bank a double-digit haul from his first outing.

His pinpoint free-kick was disallowed for a inconsequential foul in the box that may well have been overturned by VAR had the referee not been trigger-happy with his whistle.

Even discounting what would have been a Goal of the Month contender, no player registered more shots on target in Gameweek 1 than Eze.

Rex

Eze deserved more in Gameweek 1[/caption]

The England international remains the subject of transfer speculation but Ilkay Gundogan’s anticipated return to Manchester City is potentially good news for the Selhurst Park faithful, who are understandably desperate to keep hold of their No10.

The Eagles are due to host West Ham and Norwich in Gameweek 2 with the latter visiting South London for Carabao Cup commitments.

It’s often the case that top flight teams rest their most important players in the early rounds of the domestic cups but Eze cashed in this time last year against Plymouth in the corresponding fixture – as did Jean-Philippe Mateta (£3.5m).

Deliberately targeting the Carabao Cup second round is fraught with risk but additional midweek minutes are a useful bonus.

Diogo Jota (£4.5m)

AP

Jota justified his selection with a goal at Portman Road[/caption]

At the top we mentioned that some gaffers are using their transfers to backtrack after Gameweek 1.

With two days until the deadline, both Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Cody Gakpo (£4.5m) are among the five most transferred-out players this week.

That’s largely because Arne Slot opted for a starting front three of Mohamed Salah (£7m), Luis Diaz (£4.5m) and Jota against Ipswich, as we predicted in pre-season.

Liverpool’s new head coach we surely make full use of his attacking options throughout the campaign but the Portugal international is likely to keep his spot as first-choice centre-forward after his goal at Portman Road last Saturday.

Granted, Jota had squandered a close-range header seconds before he broke the deadlock – an uncharacteristic miss – but there can be few complaints about a return of nine points.

The Reds welcome Brentford to Anfield this coming Gameweek and while they don’t have a Carabao Cup fixture in midweek, it won’t be long until the Champions League gets underway – gaffers should already have one eye on the European competitions.

Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m)

Getty

Only Saka earned more points than Brighton’s left winger among Dream Team midfielders in Gameweek 1.

The Japan international missed the last three months of 2023/24 with a back injury but he reminded everyone of his talent with a 13-point haul at Everton’s expense last Saturday.

Like Eze, Mitoma has the benefit of two fixtures this coming Gameweek (if selected in the Carabao Cup) in the form of Manchester United and Crawley.

The Seagulls’ No22 averages roughly a goal involvement every other game in the Premier League and his dribbling ability helps him pick up regular bonus points – only Luis Diaz (£4.5m) and Jeremy Doku (£4m) completed more successful take-ons in Gameweek 1.

However, gaffers keen on Mitoma should be aware that Brighton are due to travel to Arsenal in Gameweek 3, which is the toughest fixture possible for attack-minded assets given the Gunners’ defensive record in recent times.

Elsewhere, Manchester City’s home game against Ipswich appears ripe.

The Tractor Boys resisted Liverpool for an hour on home soil but a trip to the champions’ lair is a different proposition altogether.

Haaland owners (and captainers) will be hopeful of plentiful points but who else is best placed to cash in?

Mateo Kovacic (£3m) is the fourth most-recruited player at the time of writing but another goal would be a case of lightning striking twice – the Croatian midfielder has scored ten goals in 378 appearances at club level since he moved to Real Madrid in 2015.

Bernardo Silva (£4.5m) is a more reliable attacking threat while Rico Lewis (£3m) offers an affordable route into City’s defence, assuming Kyle Walker (£4m) still isn’t ready to start following his late return post-Euros.

Lastly, a quick mention for Antonee Robinson (£3m), who racked up EIGHT tackles against Manchester United last Friday.

Fulham face Leicester, Birmingham and Ipswich before the international break and their defence has been bolstered by the signing of Joachim Andersen (£3m).

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