Mohamed Salah’s statement return prompts early tidal wave of transfers among Dream Team managers

DREAM TEAM managers have wasted no time in recruiting Mohamed Salah (£6.7m).

The Egyptian superstar returned to action a little sooner than expected when he replaced the injured Diogo Jota (£4.3m) against Brentford just before half time on Saturday.

And he was on the pitch just over ten minutes before he provided an assist for Alexis Mac Allister (£3.2m) with an incisive pass into the Bees’ penalty area.

Then just after the hour-mark, Salah latched onto a flick-on and bamboozled Nathan Collins (£2m) to score the Reds’ third goal in what was ultimately a 4-1 win in West London.

Having missed eight games through international duty and injury, the 31-year-old needed just 50-odd minutes upon his comeback to deliver two goal involvements and ten Dream Team points.

Naturally, this statement performance has prompted an early tidal wave of transfers among Dream Team gaffers.

In fact, only four players were transferred into more teams prior to Gameweek 24 than Salah for Gameweek 25… and there’s still five days until the deadline.

It’s early days but the recruitment of Salah ahead of Gameweek 25 is likely to be one of the most-popular transfers of 2023/24, especially with Jota now facing a spell on the sidelines.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have another another fixture to fulfil before this Gameweek is done and dusted – a home game against Luton on Wednesday night.

In the likely scenario Salah starts and hauls against the Hatters, his ownership will only spike further.

Liverpool’s No11 now has 222 points to his name this season, a tally only bettered by Erling Haaland (£7.3m) among forwards.

It’s remarkable that the familiar duo are once again on top in their position give both recently missed a substantial number of fixtures, such is their pedigree.

In the same way most right-thinking gaffers immediately brought Manchester City’s No9 back into their XI the moment he was available for selection, Salah’s showing against Brentford is seemingly all many will need to centre their strategy around him ahead of Gameweek 25.

His goal against Thomas Frank’s troops was his 19th of the campaign in all competitions – only Haaland (21) has more at the time of writing.

However, ten assists makes it 29 goal involvements for Salah this term – the joint-best tally alongside Ollie Watkins (£4.4m).

Liverpool face Chelsea (Carabao Cup final) and Southampton (FA Cup fifth round) in Gameweek 25 and they’re one of just four clubs with two fixtures each in Gameweeks 26 and 27 because of their Europa League commitments.

Injury concerns may give Klopp sleepless nights but the fact remains his side are top of the Premier League and favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley next weekend.

Dream Team bosses should keep an eye on proceedings at Anfield on Wednesday night but all signs points towards Salah at this stage.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk