Why Dream Team gaffers should delay transfers for Newcastle’s 200-point midfielders until international break

NEWCASTLE are the only team with two midfielders on 200+ Dream Team points at the time of writing.

Given that the Magpies are currently eighth in the Premier League table and were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, this may come as a surprise to many gaffers.

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Dream Team415 Dream Team points between them[/caption]

Anthony Gordon (£3.9m) scored his tenth goal of the season in his side’s 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday for a nine-point return.

The ex-Everton winger has also provided nine assists in all competitions.

His overall tally of 209 points puts him fifth among assets in his position, one point ahead of Bruno Fernandes (£5m) and four points shy of Cole Palmer (£4.3m).

Bruno Guimaraes (£4.4m) isn’t far behind as the seventh-best midfielder on 206 points.

The Brazilian is a unique Dream Team asset as his style lends itself perfectly to the bonus system.

In fact, just over 30% of the 26-year-old’s total is made up of bonus points.

He’s amassed 63 bonus points to date, 17 more than his closest rival in the metric, Phil Foden (£5.7m).

Bonus point kingGetty

Gaffers are able to view the breakdown of Guimaraes’ player performance marks (which determine bonus points) in the Stats Centre.

In short, he wins a huge number of fouls and also ranks highly in his position for successful dribbles, blocks and interceptions.

Add in 83 tackles, a tally only bettered by five other players, plus ten goal involvements and the numbers reflect what the St James’ Park faithful have observed, Guimaraes is a tremendously effective all-action midfielder.

He too banked nine points at Wolves’ expense via an assist, three bonus points and a big chance created.

Newcastle have not been at their best this season, mainly because they have been severely hampered by injuries, by Gordon and Guimaraes have emerged as top-tier midfield options for Dream Team managers.

That being said, a quick glance at the schedule suggests gaffers might be wise to wait until the international break if they are tempted to recruit either (or both) of Eddie Howe’s favourites.

Getty19 goal involvements in 2023/24[/caption]

Newcastle are not among the seven teams with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 27 and their only game, a trip to Chelsea, isn’t one that demands to be targeted.

Then in Gameweek 28, they face Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Once that difficult match-up is out of the way and the international break is complete, that’s when Gordon and Guimaraes will look like smart transfer options.

Gameweek 29 consists of back-to-back home games against West Ham and Everton.

One thing to be wary of, however, is Guimaraes’ disciplinary record.

He’s racked 13 yellow cards already this season and is perhaps a tad fortunate not to have seen red at least once.