Fantasy Football

ARE you languishing in your Dream Team Mini League?Do you feel the need to do something different in order to gain ground on your rivals?
In that case, you could do a lot worse than backing Pascal Gross (£4.4m) and Simon Adingra (£3.2m) across the next three Gameweeks.
Dream Team ownership: 0.1%Credit: Dream Team
We’re not proposing this recommendation simply because the pair combined for 27 points during Brighton’s win over Sheffield United on Saturday, although of course recent form is an important factor.
The German midfielder provided his 12th assist of the season amid a fantastic all-round display against the Blades.
In fact, Gross earned five bonus points when all was done and dusted to bank 12 points in total, his third consecutive double-digit haul.
The Seagulls’ No13 has pocketed 35 points across his last three outings, making him statistically Dream Team’s second-most in-form player right now.
More broadly, Gross is currently level with Cole Palmer (£4.4m) overall, joint-fourth in the midfield rankings.
An underrated gemCredit: Reuters
As for Adingra, he bagged 15 points via two goals as Roberto De Zerbi’s men ran riot at Bramall Lane.
The 22-year-old was instrumental in Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations victory and he carried over his impressive international form to club level with a 15-point return.
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From a Dream Team perspective, the most exciting thing about the skilful winger is that he features in just 0.1% of teams, making him a massive differential option.
Similarly, Gross only appears in 2.7% of teams despite the fact he’s six points shy of a double century.
Hence why the pair are potential game-changers if you’re in need of a nuclear option as it’s unlikely your rivals will also benefit from their returns.
Brighton’s schedule looks appealing in the coming weeksCredit: Getty
Additionally, the schedule suggest this is potentially a great time to employ such a strategy as Brighton are one of just two teams with two fixtures in each of the next three Gameweeks.
BRIGHTON FIXTURES:

Gameweek 25: Everton (Premier League) & Wolves (FA Cup)
Gameweek 26: Fulham (Premier League) & TBC (Europa League)
Gameweek 27: Nottingham Forest (Premier League) & TBC (Europa League)

Very few gaffers will opt to double up on Brighton midfielders during this favourable run but it’s a perfectly viable strategy on paper.
Gross in particular should be considered a savvy option as he averages 6.3 points-per-game in 2023/24.

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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.
A statement performanceCredit: Dream Team
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.
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Salah was back among the goals in the blink of an eyeCredit: Getty
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).
Dream Team bosses should target Liverpool fixtures in the coming weeksCredit: AP
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.

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DREAM TEAM brings you all the latest injury, suspension and availability news ahead of Gameweek 24 in one easily digestible dose.Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.2m) is expected to miss Liverpool’s next three games at least following the recurrence of a previous injury.
At the time of writing, the Reds’ right-back still appears in 14.5% of teams.
Jurgen Klopp will be able to call upon Alisson (£3.4m), Conor Bradley (£3m) and Ibrahima Konate (£2.9m) away at the Brentford on Saturday – the latter returns from suspension.
The German tactician also revealed that Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) is “automatically in contention” having returned to full training this week.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlikely to return before the Carabao Cup finalCredit: Dream Team
Malo Gusto (£2.5m) and Levi Colwill (£3.1m) are available for Chelsea again after midweek concerns but Thiago Silva (£3.1m) will not feature at the Etihad having sustained a minor injury.
Jack Grealish (£3.3m) has joined Josko Gvardiol (£3.3m) on the sidelines after the midfielder was prematurely substituted against Copenhagen.
Pep Guardiola also said that Bernardo Silva (£3.8m) will be assessed before a final decision is made on his involvement.

Matheus Cunha (£4.3m), who has been one of the best surprise packages in Dream Team this season, is set for a relatively lengthy spell on the sidelines having incurred what Gary O’Neil described as a “fairly significant” hamstring injury.
In brighter news for Wolves, Hwang Hee-chan (£3.3m) is available again and is expected to feature against Tottenham in some capacity on Saturday.
As for Spurs, Ange Postecoglou told reporters that first-choice full-backs Destiny Udogie (£2.8m) and Pedro Porro (£3.7m) will not be among the matchday squad.
The latter is currently Dream Team’s third-best defender and the fifth-most selected asset in his position.
“Pedro picked up a sort of strain in training,” Postecoglou said. “And it’s fair to say he’ll miss tomorrow, maybe a couple of weeks for him.”
Pedro Porro will be a big miss for SpursCredit: Getty
Eddie Howe told journalists that Alexander Isak (£4.4m) will “probably not” be among Newcastle’s squad this weekend although he said something similar about Anthony Gordon (£3.7m) prior to the Magpies’ No10 playing 89 minutes against Nottingham Forest.
Dream Team bosses have learned to take Howe’s comments regarding availability with a pinch of salt.
Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara (£2.3m) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season having been diagnosed with a ruptured ACL.
He joins team-mates Tyrone Mings (£2.8m) and Emi Buendia (£2.5m) among the Villains’ long-term absentees.
Diego Carlos (£2.1m) is expected to miss the next three or four weeks with a hamstring issue.
At West Ham, David Moyes told reporters: “Lucas Paqueta is not fit for tomorrow. He’s been on the grass for a couple of days, but he’s not ready yet.
“Kurt Zouma is fine. The bigger issue was Edson Alvarez, who came off with illness last time out, but he’s fine as well.”
Boubacar Kamara will not play again this seasonCredit: Getty
ARSENAL
Injuries: Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira (doubt), Gabriel Jesus (doubt), Oleksandr Zinchenko (doubt), Emile Smith Rowe (doubt), Takehiro Tomiyasu (doubt)
Suspensions: None
ASTON VILLA
Injuries: Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, Jhon Duran, Ezri Konsa, Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos
Suspensions: None
BOURNEMOUTH
Injuries: Ryan Fredericks, Tyler Adams, James Hill, Max Aarons, Romain Faivre (doubt)
Suspensions: Philip Billing
BRENTFORD
Injuries: Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Bryan Mbeumo, Josh Dasilva
Suspensions: None
BRIGHTON
Injuries: Julio Enciso, Solly March, Joao Pedro, James Milner, Jack Hinshelwood
Suspensions: None
BURNLEY
Injuries: Luka Koleosho, Jordan Beyer, Charlie Taylor (doubt), Nathan Redmond, Lyle Foster
Suspensions: None
CHELSEA
Injuries: Trevoh Chalobah (doubt), Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwo, Reece James, Marc Cucurella, Beniot Badashile, Carney Chukwuemeka, Thiago Silva
Suspensions: None
CRYSTAL PALACE
Injuries: Cheick Doucoure, Will Hughes (doubt), Rob Holding, Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Suspensions: None
EVERTON
Injuries: Dele Alli, Abdoulaye Doucoure, (doubt) Andre Gomes, Arnaut Danjuma, Ben Godfrey (doubt)
Suspensions: None
FULHAM
Injuries: Raul Jimenez
Suspensions: None
LIVERPOOL
Injuries: Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Suspensions: None
LUTON
Injuries: Tom Lockyer, Marvelous Nakamba, Mads Juel Andersen, Daiki Hashioka
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER CITY
Injuries: Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva (doubt)
Suspensions: None
MANCHESTER UNITED
Injuries: Tyrell Malacia, Mason Mount, Anthony Martial, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw (doubt)
Suspensions: None
NEWCASTLE
Injuries: Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett, Joe Willock (doubt), Nick Pope, Joelinton, Alexander Isak (doubt), Callum Wilson, Jacob Murphy (doubt)
Suspensions: Sandro Tonali
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Injuries: Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare, Gonzalo Montiel, Willy Boly, Ola Aina
Suspensions: None
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Injuries: Daniel Jebbison, John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock (doubt), Oli McBurnie (doubt), Ben Brereton Diaz, Gustavo Hamer (doubt), Rhys Norrington-Davies
Suspensions: None
TOTTENHAM
Injuries: Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon, Fraser Forster, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro
Suspensions: None
WEST HAM
Injuries: Lucas Paqueta, Michail Antonio (doubt)
Suspensions: None
WOLVES
Injuries: Matheus Cunha
Suspensions: None

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FOR many Dream Team managers the captaincy conversation is an open-and-shut case.Erling Haaland (£7.3m) plundered 19 points in Gameweek 23 via a match-winning brace against Everton and so there’s every reason to keep the armband on Manchester City’s No9.
The prolific poacher has scored 21 goals in 24 appearances this season and he’s the focal point of a team that have won their last eleven games in all competitions.

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Gameweek 24’s two most-popular captainsCredit: Dream Team
Haaland is the default captain for a reason.
That being said, some gaffers may feel the need to go against the grain at this stage of the season in order to significantly improve their overall ranking and/or Mini League position.
In that case, Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) seems to be the most appealing alternative.
Arsenal’s No7 thoroughly enjoyed himself against West Ham last weekend, pocketing 17 points despite being substituted midway through the second half.
The 22-year-old scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season against the Hammers and was briefly the outright top points scorer in Dream Team until Phil Foden (£5.3m) leapfrogged him in midweek.
Looking ahead to Gameweek 24, Mikel Arteta’s side have the luxury of a Premier League match-up with Burnley at Turf Moor this weekend.
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The Clarets have the worst home record in the top flight at present.
A top-tier Dream Team assetCredit: Getty
Arsenal will then travel to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Porto.
The combination of a favourable league game plus an additional midweek fixture certainly brings Saka into the captaincy conversation – he averages 8.1 points-per-game in 2023/24.
Some Dream Team bosses may even be tempted to take on Haaland by backing one of his team-mates instead.
Pep Guardiola’s side will host Chelsea and Brentford at the Etihad in Gameweek 24.
The aforementioned Foden is in fantastic form and Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) was actually the only player to take more points (20) from Gameweek 23 than Haaland.
The superstar midfielders are more than capable of justifying a captain’s armband but if you’re going to back City for plentiful returns then there’s a danger of overthinking it if you select anyone other than Haaland.
In-form strikers Darwin Nunez (£4.5m) and Diogo Jota (£4.3m) deserve a mention since Liverpool also have two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 24.
The Reds travel to Brentford before welcoming Luton to Anfield in midweek.
Gameweek 23’s top performerCredit: PA
In terms of Booster strategies for Gameweek 24, a Park the Bus XI built around Arsenal’s solid defence has potential.
Opting to double the points of a back five that features William Saliba (£3.1m), Gabriel (£3.7m) and Ben White (£3.3m) alongside a couple of Liverpool/Man City regulars could be just the ticket.
Efficient Park the Bus opportunities are becoming less frequent as the campaign progresses but we’re not yet in the realm of use-it-or-lose-it so there’s no need to pull the trigger if you’re doubtful.

With the Premier League’s three title contenders having two fixtures each this coming Gameweek, some gaffers will be tempted to activate their 12th Man Booster.
Saka, Foden, De Bruyne, Haaland, Nunez and Jota all feel borderline essential looking at the schedule but fitting them all in is easier said than done.

Selecting one of these in-form stars as 12th Man with a view to outscoring your Mini League rivals in what should be a fruitful Gameweek is a perfectly viable tactic.
Lock in your transfers, captain and any Boosters you wish to play before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.

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DREAM TEAM managers should fix their sights firmly on the Premier League title contenders in Gameweek 24.Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are among the select group of five teams with two fixtures to fulfil, making their popular players even more appealing than usual.
Brentford and Luton are also set for double headers but while Ivan Toney (£4.9m) is a tempting differential option, gaffers who don’t need to do anything drastic should exclusively shop around the top three.
With that in mind, allow us to propose some transfer recommendations…

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A solid partnershipCredit: Dream Team
William Saliba (£3.1m) and/or Gabriel (£3.7m)
News of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5.2m) latest injury setback will leave many gaffers in need of defender.
While it’s frustrating to have one’s hand forced, this turn of events invites Dream Team bosses to back Arsenal’s resolute defence ahead of their favourable visit to Turf Moor on Saturday.
Burnley have the worst home record in the top flight this season while the Gunners boast the best defensive record – it’s a huge clean sheet opportunity on paper.
Then in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s men travel to Portugal for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie with Porto.
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The midweek match-up promises to be more competitive but it’s worth noting that the Primeira Liga outfit have been comprehensively outscored by Benfica and Sporting CP in the league this term.
If the combination of a friendly league fixture coupled with an additional midweek outing isn’t enough, the fact Saliba and Gabriel banked 29 points between them last time out should be sufficient evidence of their viability.
Arsenal have posed a serious threat from set-pieces this season, as evidenced by the goals scored by each of their first-choice centre-backs against West Ham last weekend.
The Brazilian is marginally ahead in the rankings on 150 points to the Frenchman’s 144 but the truth is there isn’t much between them – Saliba’s cheaper price may even make him the superior option but it’s a case of take-your-pick.
Doubling up on Arsenal defenders is a perfectly valid strategy.
The obvious choiceCredit: Rex
On a similar theme, Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) is essentially a must-have for Gameweek 24.
The England winger is the second-most popular player in the game and the current top scorer so this suggestion should go without saying.
Gabriel Martinelli (£4m) and Martin Odegaard (£4.1m) owners will feel confident of healthy returns too…
Nathan Ake (£3.2m)
Gaffers who would rather continue stocking up on Manchester City assets – an understandable inclination given they’ve won eleven games in a row – would do well to consider their Dutch defender.
Pep Guardiola’s rotation policy is cause for concern but Josko Gvardiol’s (£3.3m) injury should ensure back-to-back starts for Ake against Chelsea and Brentford in Gameweek 24.
Go Dutch!Credit: Getty
Granted, the defending champions haven’t kept as many clean sheets as they should have this season but they held firm against Everton last weekend and really should have kept FC Copenhagen at bay in midweek – the Danish side registered just one shot on target and 21% possession.
Ake banked 13 points in Gameweek 23 via a helpful (accidental) assist against the Toffees.
The 28-year-old is far from a short-term punt either as City play Luton and Bournemouth in Gameweek 25 – they’re also the only team with two fixtures scheduled for Gameweek 26 (Manchester United and Copenhagen).
We won’t waste any time justifying City’s blindingly obvious talents – Phil Foden (£5.3m), Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) and Erling Haaland’s (£7.3m) returns speak for themselves.
Agent of chaosCredit: PA
Diogo Jota (£4.3m) and/or Darwin Nunez (£4.5m)
Gaffers without a Liverpool forward in their XI will be nervous heading into Gameweek 24.
The Reds travel to Brentford on Saturday before welcoming Luton to Anfield on Wednesday.
Both opponents are capable of mixing it with bigger teams on their day but the fact remains the Bees and the Hatters are closer to relegation than Jurgen Klopp’s men at the top of the table.
Only Man City have scored more league goals than Liverpool at this stage of the campaign and they haven’t really felt the absence of Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) in recent weeks.
Jota has contributed 14 goals and six assists in 2023/24 while Nunez has provided 12 goals and 14 assists – impressive numbers to say the least.

Salah was pictured in training earlier this week and may get some minutes but the onus will once again be on the aforementioned pair to get the job done in the final third.
The Portugal international is way more efficient and methodical than the Uruguayan No9 but the latter’s unique brand of chaos typically results in plenty of points.
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Like Saliba and Gabriel, it’s a toss-up between the two but backing both Jota and Nunez alongside Haaland would constitute a fantastic front three.
Lock in your transfers before Saturday’s 11:30am deadline.

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WE have a soft spot for Ivan Toney (£4.9m) here at Dream Team HQ.Ever since Brentford were promoted to the Premier League, their combative target man has punched above his weight and mixed it with the game’s top strikers despite his comparatively relaxed schedule (no European commitments).
And so when Toney became available again after his eight-month suspension for gambling offences, we promised we’d review his comeback performances soon after.

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Back with a bangCredit: Dream Team
The 27-year-old has hit the ground running since his return in Gameweek 20, banking 34 points across four outings to remind Dream Team managers everywhere of his pedigree.
A three-point haul against treble winners Manchester City is his only blemish so far with goals against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and Wolves making him one of Dream Team’s most in-form forwards.
In fact, among assets in his position, only Erling Haaland (£7.3m) averages more points-per-game than Toney in 2023/24 – although of course the latter’s figure of 8.5 comes from a much smaller sample size.
What’s undeniable is that the Bees’ talisman is worthy of due consideration.
And a quick look at the schedule suggests he might be an interesting differential option in Gameweek 24.
That’s mainly because Thomas Frank’s side are one of just five teams with two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek.
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Brentford’s new double actCredit: Rex
However, it should be noted that Brentford’s double header is comfortably the most challenging on paper – they host Liverpool on Saturday before travelling to Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Those testing match-ups reduce the viability of every other Brentford player but Toney’s record sets him apart from his team-mates.
Remember, he scored 20 goals from 33 league games last season, even outscoring Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) in the top flight.
And three goals from his first four appearances this term suggests the lengthy suspension has not had a negative impact on his playing ability.

Admittedly, stocking up on Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool players in Gameweek 24 appears the wisest strategy as the three title contenders also have two fixtures each.
But Toney deserves to be shortlisted among the potential recruits this week.
His ownership of 1.8% makes him a huge differential, one that may appeal to gaffers who feel the need to think outside the box in order to gain ground in their Mini Leagues.

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WAS there any doubt Kevin De Bruyne (£5.9m) would put on an exhibition in Gameweek 23?Manchester City’s playmaker-in-chief has hardly missed a beat since returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, as Everton and FC Copenhagen discovered to their detriment.

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A world-class performerCredit: Dream Team
Initially, it seemed as if the Dream Team managers who resisted the urge to transfer the brilliant Belgian into their XI were justified as he was named on the bench against the Toffees for Saturday’s early kick-off.
However, De Bruyne was introduced just before the hour-mark with the score at 0-0 and helped the defending champions register their tenth straight win in all competitions.
The 32-year-old provided the assist for Erling Haaland’s (£7.3m) second goal to register four points from just over half an hour’s work.
A short weekend shift all but guaranteed De Bruyne’s place in the starting line-up in the Danish capital on Tuesday night and that’s where he really cashed in.
Those hesitant gaffers could only watch on and grimace as he scored City’s opening goal before assisting their second and third.
When all was said and done, De Bruyne claimed 16 points from the Champions League round of 16 first leg to make it 20 for the Gameweek.
De Bruyne produced a pinpoint finish to unlock Copenhagen’s defenceCredit: Getty
This combined haul means he finishes as the top performer in Gameweek 23, edging out team-mates Haaland and Phil Foden (£5.3m).
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De Bruyne has been among the top five most transferred-in players for the last four Gameweeks in succession but a significant portion of gaffers have been resistant, perhaps because his playing time remains somewhat uncertain.
His sizeable ownership of 26.7% is enough to make him the eighth most-popular player in the game but, such is the star midfielder’s pedigree, he’s historically been owned by approximately half of gaffers when fully fit.
In fairness, De Bruyne has only completed 90 minutes twice in seven outings since his return but the overriding point is that he doesn’t need much time on the pitch to change the course of a game.
He’s plundered 50 points across the last five Gameweeks via two goals and eight assists.
A formidable duoCredit: AFP

The Belgium international is known for his unmatched playmaking ability but even so his tally of eight assists is remarkable given he’s played just eight games in 2023/24.
For comparison, Bruno Fernandes (£4.9m) has registered seven assists and he’s played 32 games this season.
Pep Guardiola’s side have six fixtures between Gameweeks 24 and 26, the most of any Premier League team, so De Bruyne’s backers should expect plenty more returns in the coming weeks.
And to those still reluctant to transfer him in – what are you waiting for?

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