Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 8 – Ollie Watkins & Tottenham stars deservedly popular

GAMEWEEK 8 is a crucial juncture in the Dream Team calendar for two reasons.

Primarily, because it hosts the first meeting between Arsenal and Manchester City, meaning a vast number of the game’s most-popular assets will be in direct competition.

Secondly, because no gaffer will want to spend the upcoming international break mulling over underwhelming returns.

In hope of inspiring readers to achieve plentiful points this weekend, here are some transfer recommendations…

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James Maddison (£4.4m) & Son Heung-min (£4.7m)

We’ve grouped Tottenham’s two main men together because the same logic applies to both.

While the Gunners’ unbeaten record will be tested against the might of Pep Guardiola’s winning machine, Ange Postecoglou’s men will be very confident of extending their undefeated streak away to Luton on Saturday.

The Hatters beat Everton last weekend but were dealt a reality check by Burnley in midweek and they’ll have to produce an ultra resilient performance to keep Spurs at bay – the North Londoners average a shade under two and a half goals per league game this season.

With 68 points to his name, Maddison is Dream Team’s third-best midfielder at the time of writing – a superb effort without European fixtures.

While Son is fourth among forwards with 60 points – only Erling Haaland (£8m) has scored more goals in all competitions at this stage of the campaign.

Many gaffers will be conscious of ensuring their XI is stacked full of players set to pull double duty in Gameweek 9 but there’s plenty to be said for recruiting Spurs’ two most potent threats ahead of a favourable match-up – even if only for some sweet, short-term gains.

Unsurprisingly, this pair are the most transferred-in players ahead of Gameweek 8 with the England midfielder slightly more popular than the South Korean superstar.

Ollie Watkins (£4.1m)

Some Dream Team bosses will feel the horse has bolted here.

Aston Villa’s No11 scored three of his side’s six goals last weekend and was credited with an assist for two others.

Watkins’ masterclass against Brighton yielded 25 points, the biggest return for a single game yet in 2023/24 – no wonder he’s earned an England recall.

While gaffers should resist chasing lost points, the Villains’ top scorer is very much a viable option for the weeks ahead.

Unai Emery’s side travel to Wolves this weekend before facing West Ham, Luton, Nottingham Forest and Fulham around favourable Europa Conference League fixtures.

Julian Alvarez (£4.5m) is the only player in any position with more goal involvements than Watkins’ ten right now – the latter is the third-most popular recruit this week.

Levi Colwill (£2.7m)

Gaffers looking to target a clean sheet in Gameweek 8 would do well to consider Chelsea defenders.

The Blues have been excessively wasteful in the final third but that’s distracted from the fact they’ve actually been rather solid at the back.

In fact, only Man City have conceded fewer league goals this season.

This weekend, Mauricio Pochettino’s troops travel to Turf Moor where they’ll meet a Burnley side who have mustered just five goals since promotion.

Statistically, this should be a low-scoring affair but that would probably mean more healthy returns for Colwill, who is up to sixth in the defensive rankings after a 12-point haul at Craven Cottage on Monday.

Again, this may be a short-term strategy as Chelsea will host Arsenal immediately after the international break but two transfers per Gameweek allows for such ploys.

Darwin Nunez (£4.2m)

A passing mention for everyone’s favourite agent of chaos.

With Cody Gakpo (£3.2m) injured and Diogo Jota (£3.4m) suspended, it’s virtually guaranteed that Nunez will be unleashed upon Brighton this weekend.

The Seagulls pack a punch in attack but they’ve conceded the same number of goals at Luton and were thrashed 6-1 by Villa last time out.

Liverpool’s No9, a potent counter-attacker, is well equipped to take on Roberto De Zerbi’s side and the Reds will be highly motivated to get their Premier League campaign back on track after the controversial nature of their defeat to Spurs.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk