3 popular players Dream Team managers need to ditch once transfers are refreshed

FEBRUARY’S transfers will be available to gaffers this coming Friday and for some they can’t come soon enough.

The Premier League’s winter transfer window always changes the landscape to some degree and there are several notable injuries to negotiate as well.

For this purposes of this exercise, we’re going to focus on some relatively popular players who are fit but haven’t been pulling their weight recently and consequently may need replacing.

First up, it’s William Saliba (£3.5m).

Firing blanksgetty

Arsenal’s No12 made a strong start to the season, racing to 36 points by the end of Game Week 7.

However, the Frenchman has only added a further 33 points to his total in 16 appearances since.

Incredibly, Saliba remains the second-most selected defender in the game with massive ownership of 23.7% but the simple fact is he’s not providing returns worth of his popularity – he’s mustered eight points in his last six outings.

The Gunners’ title charge remains very much on track but the significant points are to be had from the likes of Bukayo Saka (£4.3m) and Martin Odegaard (£3.6m).

Additionally, any gaffers that want to back Arsenal defenders should be aware that Gabriel (£4.4m), Ben White (£4.8m) and even Kieran Tierney (£3.4m) have outscored Saliba this term.

No Silva lining here

Bernardo Silva (£3.1m) provided immense value for money last season but he’s averaging just 1.7 points-per-game in 2022/23.

The Portuguese midfielder has scored two goals and provided five assists in 29 appearances and five of those goal involvements came in the first month of the campaign.

Worryingly, the 28-year-old has contributed just three points across the last nine Game Weeks (49 overall).

Bernardo and his backers have paid the price for his drop-off – he started the season at £4.5m (and peaked at £4.7m) but he may well dip below £3m by the time February’s action gets underway.

Not in safe handsgetty

Lastly, most Dream Team bosses should realise there are better options than Hugo Lloris (£3.1m) in goal.

Tottenham’s No1 is still the sixth-most popular player in his position at the time of writing but his tally of 47 points represents an underwhelming return.

The Frenchman was undoubtedly a top-tier shot stopper in his prime but these days he commits too many individual errors.

Vicente Guaita (£2.5m), Dean Henderson (£3m) and David Raya (£2.9m) are among the extensive list of keepers above Lloris in the rankings right now.

Those clinging onto the past need to realise that all good things come to an end.