Transfer recommendations ahead of Gameweek 5 – Manchester United assets promise short-terms gains

GAMEWEEK 5 promises to be a pivotal juncture in the Dream Team calendar.

Manchester City v Arsenal is the current Premier League equivalent of an unstoppable force against an immovable object and gaffers will be split between those who captain Erling Haaland (£9.1m) and those who feel this is the week to take him on.

Ten of the 20 Premier League sides have two fixtures to fulfil this coming Gameweek with eight in Carabao Cup action and two set to start their Europa League campaign.

Which brings us neatly onto this week’s transfer recommendations…

Marcus Rashford (£3.8m)

What a difference a week makes.

Manchester United’s No10 mustered just nine points from his first three outings of the season and looked bereft of confidence but he was at the heart of an incredibly encouraging Gameweek 4 for the Red Devils.

Erik ten Hag’s side followed up their 3-0 win over Southampton with a 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup with Rashford contributing three goals and an assist across the two games.

Granted, the opposition were favourable but a 32-point return has to be respected – he’ll finish as the Gameweek’s joint-top performer barring something special from an Arsenal player this evening.

Rashford’s mega haul means he’s destined for a price increase so gaffers could take a short-term punt on him for one or two Gameweeks and then flip him for a tidy profit.

And it’s an opportune time to employ such a tactic with Man United set to take on Crystal Palace and FC Twente.

The Carabao Cup games may yield healthy returns but the top teams are expected to rotate their squad amid schedule congestion.

Whereas Ten Hag will surely name strong line-ups in both Gameweek 5 fixtures as he’ll want to start the Europa League campaign with a win.

All this means Rashford, with confidence renewed, should get at least 120 minutes playing time this coming Gameweek.

Only Dwight McNeil (£3.5m) has created more big chances than the 26-year-old at the time of writing.

Alejandro Garnacho (£3.6m) also amassed 32 points in Gameweek 4, via three goals and two assists.

The Argentine winger ticks a lot of boxes but he’s been limited to an average of 35 minutes per league fixture so far this season, which is a concern.

If we knew the 20-year-old would start both games he would be an excellent option but that’s not a guarantee given Ten Hag’s recent team selections – proceed with caution.

Dominic Solanke (£4m)

First things first, Tottenham don’t look great right now.

Following a painful defeat in the North London derby, Ange Postecoglou oversaw a meek performance against Coventry on Wednesday night, though his side did beat the Championship outfit in the end.

That being said, we still think Spurs assets are well positioned to provide healthy returns in Gameweek 5 as they too will participate in the opening round of Europa League games.

Solanke and company have the luxury of back-to-back home games against Brentford (depleted by injuries) and Qarabag.

The ex-Bournemouth striker returned from injury in Gameweek 4 and while he returned just six points from two outings, he’s a tempting option as the focal point of the attack.

Admittedly, Spurs have struggled to convert possession into goals but the statistics suggest they will generate plenty of chances against the Bees – only West Ham have faced more shots in the top flight this term.

Couple this match-up with a home game against Azerbaijani opposition on Thursday night and there’s a relatively good chance Solanke opens his account in Gameweek 5.

The likes of Son Heung-min (£5.2m), Pedro Porro (£4.4m) and James Maddison (£4.3m) are all viable too.

Ollie Watkins (£5.6m)

Aston Villa’s main man finally came to the party in Gameweek 4.

Watkins scored twice against Everton last Saturday to inspire his side to a comeback victory and provided an assist away to Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

When all was said done, he added 24 points to his total – only the aforementioned Rashford and Garnacho have earned more points this Gameweek at the time of writing.

Looking ahead to Gameweek 5, the Villains are due to host an out-of-form Wolves at Villa Park before travelling to Wycombe for Carabao Cup commitments.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Watkins was rested for the match-up against League One opposition (he was pictured icing his ankle in Switzerland after being substituted) but the impressive forward could feast against Gary O’Neil’s mob – only Everton have conceded more league goals this season.

Plus, Watkins is not merely a short-term punt, he’s potentially a set-and-forget asset.

Villa are one of just seven teams with two fixtures to fulfil in Gameweek 6 (Ipswich and Bayern Munich).

Dominik Szoboszlai (£4.1m)

There are several Liverpool assets who should be a higher priority than the Hungary international but given Mohamed Salah (£7.6m), Luis Diaz (£5m) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (£5.9m) are already among the most-popular players in the game, there’s no need to waste time detailing their attributes.

Szoboszlai is an affordable differential for gaffers who want a slice of the Reds’ action without breaking the bank.

The 23-year-old was subdued against Nottingham Forest (as were all his team-mates) but he took Milan for 11 points in midweek.

He is expected to continue as the most-advanced midfielder in Arne Slot’s system for the foreseeable future.

Liverpool host Bournemouth (league) and West Ham (cup) in Gameweek 5 with Wolves and Bologna to follow in Gameweek 6.

Confirm your transfers for Gameweek 5 before Saturday’s 11am deadline.