DREAM TEAM EUROS managers have a maximum of five transfers to use prior to the Matchday 6 deadline later today.
It goes without saying that gaffers will have to ditch any eliminated players from Portugal, Germany, Switzerland and Turkey but which assets are placed to provide healthy returns in the semi-finals?
Dani Olmo (£4m)
Spain’s No10 was undoubtedly the standout star of the quarter-finals.
Olmo wasn’t selected to start against Germany but an early injury to Pedri (£4m) meant he came off the bench inside the first ten minutes and proceeded to play a decisive hand.
The RB Leipzig midfielder scored La Roja’s first goal, assisted their last-gasp winner in extra time, and earned the maximum of five bonus points for his influential all-round performance.
When all was said and done, Olmo banked 19 points, five more than the next-best performer in Matchday 5.
The 26-year-old will surely start against France this evening and he’s justifiably the most-popular recruit ahead of the 7pm deadline.
Olmo will be up against it versus a France defence that are yet to concede a goal from open play this tournament but the way he unlocked Germany’s defence has given his owners a reason to be optimistic.
Some Dream Team Euros bosses will continue to back Mike Maignan (£4.5m) and Didier Deschamps’ first-choice defenders – a perfectly reasonably strategy.
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Les Bleus are hardly the most entertaining outfit but Theo Hernandez (£5m), Jules Kounde (£4m), Dayot Upamecano (£4m) and William Saliba (£4.5m) combined for 34 points after another solid defensive display in Matchday 5.
Bukayo Saka (£6.5m)
Arsenal’s homegrown ‘star boy’ came to England’s rescue in the quarter-finals.
Saka was the Three Lions’ most-potent threat throughout the game, a fact underlined by his pinpoint equaliser, a trademark finish from the edge of the box.
Add in a well-deserved three bonus points and the 22-year-old collected 13 points in total – the third best haul among all assets in the last eight.
Gareth Southgate’s side have not been at their fluent best but they’re one game away from a second successive European Championship final.
Netherlands have conceded goals to Poland, Austria and Turkey on their journey to the semi-finals and so Saka will fancy his chances of carving out some opportunities against Nathan Ake (£4m) and company.
Denzel Dumfries (£4.5m)
Gaffers unconvinced by England’s prospects may feel there’s value to be had backing Dutch stars.
Southgate’s side are yet to score more than one goal in 90 minutes at this tournament and so Dumfries may be a reasonable punt.
The ambitious right-back was among the top assist providers in qualifying and will endeavour to get forward often, where he may be able to exploit England’s somewhat disjointed left flank.
It was Dumfries who supplied the ball to the back post that was inadvertently turned in by Mert Mulder for the Oranje’s winner against Turkey – he earned eight points in Matchday 5.
It goes without saying that Cody Gakpo (£4m) is the Netherlands attacker of choice as he’s the outright top performer in Dream Team Euros on 52 points.
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The Liverpool forward has scored three goals, provided one assist, and ranks highly for both shots on target and big chances created.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
