ONLY Erling Haaland (£8.5m) is more popular among Dream Team managers than Bukayo Saka (£6m) ahead of the new season.
At the time of writing, Manchester City’s prolific poacher features in 85.6% of teams created despite being the most-expensive player in the game by a wide margin.
This was to be expected as the Norwegian goal machine plundered 431 points in 2022/23, the second-highest total in Dream Team history, to propel his side to a monumental treble.
Haaland is quite clearly in a bracket of his own so it’s notable that Arsenal’s No7 is next on the podium.
Saka currently appears in 36.6% of teams, ahead of Kevin De Bruyne (£7.5m) and Bruno Fernandes (£6.5m) in the midfield popularity contest.
The England international’s cheaper price is a factor and it may be that gaffers are forgoing the Manchester pair in favour of Saka when selecting their premium midfielder – Haaland’s cost means compromises must be made elsewhere.
But of course the primary reason for Saka’s popularity is his considerable talent.
He registered 15 goals and eleven assists last season with all but one of those goal involvements coming in the Premier League.
The Emirates’ resident ‘Star Boy’ was a significant contributor to the Gunners’ unexpected title challenge and with some high-profile recruits through the door – Declan Rice (£3.5m), Kai Havertz (£3.5m), Jurrien Timber (£3.5m) – Mikel Arteta’s side are likely to be strong again this season.
It’s easy to forget that Saka is still just 21 years old, his prime may yet be a few years in the future – a scary prospect for the world’s left-backs.
While it’s true he set a high standard for himself in 2022/23, most observers would expect him to maintain that level or even improve.
Arsenal’s August fixtures are another factor in Saka’s popularity.
They get underway with a home fixture against Nottingham Forest, who had the worst away record in the Premier League last term – Steve Cooper’s side mustered just eight points on the road.
Arsenal then travel to Crystal Palace, who actually performed better away from Selhurst Park in 2022/23, before finishing the month with Fulham’s visit to north London.
Favourable fixtures are more difficult to predict at the start of the campaign but that’s a relatively friendly set on paper which looks ripe for some Saka returns.
What’s interesting is that Martin Odegaard (£5m) is a full million cheaper and the Norwegian playmaker was just five points adrift of his team-mate last season, so he’s evidently a strong option for August and beyond as well.
In fairness, Arsenal’s captain is currently the fourth-most popular asset in his position so it’s not like this alternative strategy is being overlooked by Dream Team bosses – many gaffers may even be doubling up on Gunners midfielders.
What’s clear at this stage is that some early-season Saka magic would make a sizeable portion of Dream Team gaffers very happy.
It’ll be interesting to see how his returns compare to the less popular duo of De Bruyne and Fernandes…
