AS Dream Team managers count down the days until the new campaign gets underway, The Sun are analysing each of last season’s top teams in detail.
First up, it’s Brighton under the microscope and Roberto De Zerbi’s troops are expected to be popular recruits this term having entertained in spades throughout 2022/23 with several of their assets providing incredible value for money.
Here we’ve assembled their best players, bargain options and potential flops.
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BEST PLAYERS
Solly March (£3.5m) and Kaoru Mitoma (£3.5m) finished level on 153 points each at the top of the Seagulls’ rankings last season and the pair will be among the best midfield assets again if Brighton continue to attack with verve, especially with Europa League fixtures to bolster their schedule.
The Englishman would have topped Brighton’s rankings with 221 points had the new scoring system been implemented but it’s worth noting that the Japanese dribbler wasn’t a regular starter prior to the World Cup – he’s guaranteed more minutes this coming season if he avoids injury.
March averaged a goal involvement every 194.8 minutes in the Premier League last season whereas Mitoma notched one every 178.2 minutes – both are superb options at £3.5m.
It’s early days but Dream Team bosses may be underestimating Pascal Gross (£3.5m) when perusing the buffet of Brighton midfielders.
At the time of writing, Mitoma appears in 16.5% of teams while the experienced German has an ownership of just 1.7%.
Gross would have earned 20 points more than his skilful team-mate last season in the new scoring system – in fact, the stats suggest the former could be one of the biggest beneficiaries from the new process.
A mention for enterprising left-back Pervis Estupinian (£3.5m) who is deservedly among the most-popular defenders in the game at this stage.
POTENTIAL BARGAINS
Evan Ferguson (£3m) averaged a goal every 134.4 minutes in all competitions last season so if he’s going to be De Zerbi’s main man up front there could be plenty of returns on offer.
Physically, the 18-year-old is mature beyond his years but it would be quite something for a club to finish sixth in the richest league in the world and then back a teenager to lead the line for the entirety of the following campaign.
But as the old adage goes, if you’re good enough you’re old enough – and Ferguson has shown more than enough promise to date.
Brighton offered supreme value for money last season and while most of their assets have been given a sizeable price boost, Julio Enciso (£2m) remains cheap as chips.
The Paraguay international, who is categorised as a midfielder, stepped up for his side at the back end of 2022/23 to ensure Europa League qualification with four goals and two assists across his last 637 minutes of action (at an average of a goal involvement every 106.2 minutes).
Enciso is generally a rotational player and when he does start he rarely completes 90 minutes but his form in recent outings warrants suitable consideration.
POTENTIAL FLOPS
Dream Team gaffers are desperate to establish the goalkeeping pecking order at the Amex.
Jason Steele (£3m) usurped Robert Sanchez last season and did an admirable job but whether he continues as No1 depends on whether new signing Bart Verbruggen (£3m) is viewed as a future prospect or an immediate starter.
The 20-year-old Dutchman has joined the Seagulls from Anderlecht for £16.3million but it’s not yet clear how De Zerbi rates him compared to the more experienced Steele.
It goes without saying that Dream Team bosses should stay well clear of bench-warmers so don’t commit to a Brighton keeper unless the pecking order has been cemented.
Finally, don’t get sentimental about James Milner (£2m), the hard-working midfielder’s days as a viable Dream Team asset are well behind him.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
