Mohammed Salah had a stellar campaign last season. Scoring 32 goals and assisting another 12. The Egyptian gathered a total of 303 in the Fantasy Premier league beating by some distance the next best total of Raheem Sterling at 229.
Carrying huge expectations of taking that form into this season, Fantasy managers have to cough up £13 for his services this time around. This has divided fantasy managers right through the middle with 51% of the players deciding to give him a place in their side. This is a sizable amount with the rest of the players supposedly taking a huge risk if the Egyptian gets anywhere close to his last season’s returns.
But what if the second season syndrome kicks him and by some miracle, Salah does not deliver this season? Even if he does, is that price too much to ask for one player and would you rather free up funds to have other Fantasy big hitters? Here are a few who can be considered as an alternative
1. Sadio Mané – Liverpool
How about starting with his fellow Liverpool teammate who offers plenty of goal threat himself. Priced at £9.5, Mané is listed as a midfielder like Salah and plays on the opposite flank. Mane isn’t goal shy at all as he scored 10 and assisted another 8 last time around giving a point total of 147.
That might increase this year if the Senegalese forward’s pre-season form is taken into account. He has scored against both the Manchester clubs in the friendlies and looks sharp going into the new season. Mane assures both goals and assists and would probably be owned by more than his current 14% if he was at a different club.
Mane’s stock will rise if he manages to outperform Salah in the opening game weeks. For now, he seems to be a good alternative who frees up about £3.5 to be used in the squad.
2. Alexis Sanchez – Manchester United
Manchester United are not attracting too much attention in Fantasy football this time around with the exception of David de Gea. A dour pre-season and lack of exciting transfer activity might be the reason. This is evident by the ownership (8.4%) of their star acquisition of the previous winter transfer window.
By comparison players like Jesse Lingard(12.6%), Paul Pogba(14%) and Romelu Lukaku(14.5%) have more ownership currently even though they are yet to come back to United’s first team training.
Sanchez priced at £10.5 has been used as a striker in pre-season in the absence of Lukaku. Though expected to return soon, Sanchez might still play as an attacking partner to the Belgian.
This gives an exciting prospect to fantasy managers as the Chilean’s greatest return in Fantasy Football has been when he was playing as a striker in the 16-17 season (264 pts) as compared to the underwhelming previous season (152 pts).
There is every chance that Sanchez might explode with goals this season after being much better integrated to the team and having the summer off to rest with Chile not in the World Cup. Sanchez has every reason to be raring to go and become a fantasy hard hitter again this season.
3. Leroy Sane – Manchester City
With De Bruyne and Sterling yet to return after their World Cup exploits, Leroy Sane who was controversially left out of Germany’s world cup squad looks the main attacking and creative threat in the Manchester City squad.
The 22-year-old winger gave back a total of 179 points last season scoring 10 and providing another 15. With the young player developing with every passing season, expect those figures to grow. Especially considering the German must have a point to prove after his World Cup snub.
Priced at £9.5, Sane plays in a city side that were free-scoring last term. Picked by about 20% of the Fantasy crowd, Sane is a must have in a midfield with or without Salah.
4. Christian Eriksen – Tottenham
The Danish midfield magician! In a Spurs side possibly without Kane for the first couple of Game weeks, Eriksen is the man to look up to for points. Priced again at £9.5, Eriksen gave back 199 points last term, scoring 11 and assisting 10. He also has a talent for grabbing the Bonus points (23 last term).
Eriksen stepped up last season too when Kane was injured and might have to do it again if the Spurs striker takes a while to return from his break. His creativity is the primary point grabber: with him assisting in double figures in all of his last three seasons (10, 16 and 20). There is no reason to doubt that the Danish midfielder will provide the goods again this time around.