Gameweek 14 Transfer Tips: Budget Defenders vs. Star Midfielders

MANAGERS of the Dream Team barely have a moment to breathe as Gameweek 14 is just around the corner.

The Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League are gearing up to resume following a complete round of Premier League matches. This means the seven teams involved in European competitions will face a busy schedule.

We won’t bore you with predictable suggestions like Mohamed Salah (£7.4m), Bukayo Saka (£6.6m), and Erling Haaland (£8.6m) as transfer options (because obviously they are), but instead, here are some alternative recommendations ahead of Saturday’s 11am deadline.

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Joe Gomez (£3.1m)

While Liverpool conceded three goals to Newcastle midweek, their defense has been a dependable source of points overall this season.

Ibrahima Konate (£4.8m) is sidelined until the new year, so Gomez is expected to see plenty of playing time – he started against both Manchester City and Newcastle, earning nine points in Gameweek 13.

In Gameweek 14, the Reds have a far more favorable double matchup against Everton and Girona.

The Toffees will be eager to challenge their city’s rivals, but they are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league, while the Spanish side hasn’t quite regained their form from the 2023/24 season, currently sitting eighth in La Liga.

Arne Slot will be optimistic about securing at least one clean sheet in the upcoming fixtures, and Gomez presents a budget-friendly way to capitalize on potential points.

On the other hand, Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.7m) remains a costly option as the priciest defender in the game, yet his average of 6.9 points per game this season suggests he could deliver a significant score in Gameweek 14.

The creative right-back accumulated 16 points from his performances against Man City and Newcastle, providing two assists and reaffirming his quality following his return from injury.

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Martin Odegaard (£5.2m)

As mentioned earlier, Saka is the top-performing player in Dream Team currently and should definitely be viewed as an essential pick.

Additionally, it may be wise to double up on Arsenal midfielders during the festive season, especially given their favorable upcoming fixtures.

The Gunners’ captain has delivered three assists and one goal in three Gameweeks since returning to a starting role.

Odegaard’s statistics are impressive, but remarkably, he has also looked very sharp on the pitch since the conclusion of the November international break.

Prior to the break, Arsenal struggled offensively, scoring just one goal in three matches; however, they’ve netted 16 goals across five fixtures since the Norwegian playmaker regained full fitness.

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Kevin De Bruyne (£5.8m)

If Odegaard isn’t your first choice, why not consider another top-tier midfielder?

The brilliant Belgian from City contributed to their victory midweek with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

De Bruyne also claimed three bonus points, finishing with a total of 18 points before being substituted in the second half (20 total for the Gameweek, including two points against Liverpool).

Although the 33-year-old playmaker has only logged 548 minutes this season, Pep Guardiola will likely rely on his key players as they face Crystal Palace and Juventus in Gameweek 14.

It’s not necessary to sell you on KDB’s talents, but it’s unusual to find such a high-caliber player with an ownership rate as low as 4.8%.

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Morgan Rogers (£2.7m) or Youri Tielemans (£3.9m)

Despite a dip in confidence in Aston Villa players lately, Gameweek 14 appears to be presenting an opportunity for points, especially after Unai Emery’s side returned to winning ways against Brentford in midweek.

The Villains will take on 20th-placed Southampton on Saturday before heading to RB Leipzig on Tuesday. This is an opportune moment to face the Bundesliga team, who have experienced five losses in their last seven games across all competitions.

While Ollie Watkins (£5.3m) enjoyed a remarkable 19-point haul in Gameweek 13, he comes at a hefty price and is often substituted in the latter stages of the match.

Rogers and Tielemans offer relatively budget-friendly midfield options, both coming off the back of double-digit point hauls.

The Belgian internationals have amassed 30 bonus points this season—the highest total among all players, equal to Ryan Gravenberch (£3.8m).

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