It wasn’t just Manchester City supporters who were left devastated at the injury to their midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne, but scores of Premier League Fantasy Football players, who will now need to make urgent changes to their squad ahead of the second wave of top-flight fixtures, which take place this weekend.
Here is a selection of three midfielders who could be a worthwhile replacement for the £10m priced Man City man.
Sadio Mane (£9.6m)
The Senegal star is classed as a midfielder in Fantasy Football but in reality he is a forward who is one part of Liverpool’s rip-roaring attacking trio, alongside Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Salah may dominate the headlines but it was Mane who was the star of the show in the Reds opening day 4-0 thrashing of West Ham, during which he scored half of his side’s goals, which earned him a tasty 16 points - no player scored higher.
With games against Crystal Palace and Brighton next on the cards, the 26-year-old will have high hopes of adding to his tally in the upcoming weeks.
Riyad Mahrez (£9m)
If you want to stick with a Man City theme, then Riyad Mahrez is your man. At £9m he is a full £1m cheaper than teammate De Bruyne, and in this Citizens team he is sure to sparkle following his £60m move from Leicester City.
Last season he bagged 12 league goals for the Foxes, although his best performances undoubtedly came in the club’s miraculous 2015/16 title winning campaign during which he smashed home 17 goals, bagging a whopping 240 fantasy points along the way. If he can replicate that sort of form, expect your team to reel in a plethora of points.
It’s also worth noting that the Algerian gets his fair share of assists, accumulating 10 or more in two of the last three campaigns.
Richarlison (£6.6m)
Many balked at the £40m - which could rise to £50 - Everton splashed out on Richarlison over the summer, however the Brazilian swatted away the critics in superb style after netting a brace on his Everton debut.
His pulsating performances won those that picked him 14 fantasy points, with only his former Watford teammate Roberto Pereyra and Mane (both 16) accumulating higher scores in the midfield category.
Richarlison’s real price tag may be high, but in Fantasy Football he looks an absolute steal at £6.6m, meaning you can use the leftover £3.4m from the De Bruyne switch to bolster other areas of your team.
