MANCHESTER CITY wrapped up their fourth consecutive Premier League title on Sunday to the surprise of very few.
Appropriately, it was Phil Foden (£5.9m) who shone brightest for Pep Guardiola’s side against West Ham on the final day.
The Etihad’s homegrown hero scored a stunning goal inside two minutes to vaporise any semblance of tension and ultimately scored a brace in the decisive 3-1 win.
Foden’s performance saw him leapfrog Erling Haaland (£7.5m) at the top of the overall Dream Team rankings but the Norwegian poacher has a chance to strike back at his team-mate in the FA Cup final next weekend.
The Manchester derby at Wembley will be the final fixture of the regular Dream Team campaign – thoughts will then switch entirely to our Euros fantasy game.
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While there’s still a few i’s to dot and t’s to cross, the ultimate Dream Team XI for 2023/24 is unlikely to change so let’s run through the season’s outstanding performers.
GOALKEEPER: Andre Onana (£2.9m)
Manchester United’s custodian overtook David Raya (£3.6m) at the weekend and, barring a seismic mauling at Wembley, the Cameroon international will finish as the top asset in his position.
Who would have predicted that during the error-strewn first weeks of his time at Old Trafford?
Onana has kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions this season but the reason he’s the only player in his position to reach a double century of points (201 to be precise) is his absurd tally of 190 saves – comfortably the most among all Premier League keepers.
In a way, the Red Devils’ porous defence actually helped the 28-year-old… in the world of Dream Team at least.
DEFENDERS: Ben White (£4.6m), Gabriel (£4.3m), William Saliba (£4m)
As expected, it’s a clean sweep for Arsenal in defence.
The Gunners conceded the fewest goals in the top flight and kept the most clean sheets in all competitions by a wide margin.
White and Saliba and contributed to 22 clean sheets while Gabriel benefited from 21.
The former finished above his team-mates on 266 points because he also chipped in with ten goal involvements – four goals and six assists.
The Brazilian centre-back is almost certainly assured of second spot among defenders on 247 points but there’s an outside chance his French partner might be caught be Josko Gvardiol (£4.5m) at the last.
Man City’s in-form left-back needs 16 points at Wembley to overhaul Saliba’s total of 238 – unlikely but not impossible given the Croatia international’s scoring touch of late.
MIDFIELDERS: Phil Foden (£5.9m), Cole Palmer (£5.7m), Bukayo Saka (£5.9m), Bruno Fernandes (£5.7m)
The aforementioned Foden banked 17 points at the Hammers’ expense to reach 386 for the season in total – further evidence that he is fully deserving of the individual awards bestowed upon him.
The 23-year-old has 26 goals and 12 assists to his name and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he added to his haul against Man United on Saturday.
Chelsea’s Player of the Year deserves huge credit for his return of 368 points as he is the only man in this team who hasn’t had European fixtures to bolster his schedule at any stage of the campaign.
Palmer is actually going to finish the season having registered more goal involvements (43) than Foden – a truly exceptional breakout season.
Arsenal’s No7 wasn’t given the opportunity to improve his rank at the weekend as he missed the last league game against Everton through injury.
Regardless, Saka produced another fantastic campaign to underline his status as a top-tier Dream Team asset.
He racked up 363 points via 20 goals, 16 assists and 52 bonus points.
Our midfield is completed by another familiar figure who always ends up with a lofty ranking.
Fernandes really turned it on in the second half of the season, despite his side’s unconvincing performances, to reach 320 points with a game still to play.
The Portuguese playmaker has created 30 big chances this season, the most among all assets, and he’s likely to reach triple figures for tackles too – not to mention his 28 goal involvements.
A word for Bruno Guimaraes (£4.7m), Jarrod Bowen (£4.8m) and Mohammed Kudus (£5.2m), who all reached the 300-point mark.
STRIKERS: Erling Haaland (£7.5m), Mohamed Salah (£6.2m), Ollie Watkins (£4.9m)
For a while, Man City’s No9 tricked fans into thinking his Premier League Golden Boot was under threat but when all was said and done he finished five goals clear of Palmer on 27.
Make that 38 goals in all competitions and it’s remarkable that has Haaland copped his fair share of criticism this term.
The prolific poacher is three points behind Foden on 383 heading to Wembley.
Liverpool’s Egyptian hero may have faded in the final third of the campaign but he was brilliant in spells when the Reds looked like title contenders.
Salah is a modern Dream Team legend and another massive haul of 330 points has only cemented his status.
Last but by no means least, it’s the man who spearheaded Aston Villa’s return to the Champions League.
Watkins scored 24 goals in all competitions and he supplemented that with 18 assists, the latter tally only bettered by Kevin De Bruyne (£6.2m).
The Villains’ main man has to be considered a top-tier Dream Team striker going forward having plundered 315 points in 2023/24.
A round of applause for the cream of the crop!
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