With almost two weeks to make transfers and set up their fantasy team, fantasy football managers have been busy making changes during the international break.
So who’s been the most popular player during that time? These are the five most popular players as of Friday evening.
Diego Costa £9.7m (Chelsea) – 278,626 Transfers In
The man who dominated the Premier League, was feared by defences and was an essential in everyone’s fantasy team in 2014/15 seemed lost last season, managing just 12 goals during Chelsea’s abysmal title defence. This season however, the Spain striker seems to have found his groove again, with two goals and an assist to his name already.
With Liverpool and Arsenal looming, the question remains if he can still do it in the big games, but managers are clearly backing him to do so.
Eden Hazard £10.2m (Chelsea) – 272,518 Transfers In
Another whose powers appeared to have left him, Eden Hazard looks as good as new. Having registered 14 league goals and 10 assists in the Blues’ title-winning season, the Belgian could only muster five goals and four assists in the last campaign.
However, three games into the 2016/17 season and he’s already flying, with two goals and an assist. Over a quarter of a million managers have brought him in for Gameweek four, so he must be doing something right.
Raheem Sterling £8.2m (Manchester City) – 270,764 Transfers In
Is this the season of redemption? Raheem Sterling didn’t endure a terrible season last year, but having scored 16 goals and earned 17 assists over the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons, his return of six goals and three assists across the 2015/16 season was a little low.
With a brace against West Ham however, Sterling seems a decent option at just £8.2m in Pep Guardiola’s new Manchester City side.
Alvaro Negredo £6.9m (Middlesbrough) – 221,954 Transfers In
Alvaro Negredo is looking like the favourite for ‘Reasonably Priced Striker of the Year’ as it stands. At just £6.9m, the Spaniard, who contributed nine goals and five assists to Manchester City’s 2013/14 Premier League title, has notched a goal and two assists in three league fixtures this season, with Middlesbrough unbeaten so far.
And with pedigree like Negredo’s, he is becoming highly valuable real estate. Over 200,000 managers this week agreed.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic £11.8m (Manchester United) – 200,722 Transfers In
Over 60% of managers have already purchased Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and it comes as no surprise. The Manchester United man has delivered goals and titles almost everywhere he’s gone, and his three goals in three Premier League games suggest he is on course to do the same at Old Trafford.
At £11.8m Zlatan is expensive, but fantasy football managers don’t seem to care – and quite right too!
