Fantasy Premier League managers have the upcoming headache of two mid-season international tournaments, with two of the game’s premier performers departing for AFCON and the Asian Cup.
Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min are the two highest-scoring FPL players so far this season, though both could miss up to FOUR Premier League games as a result of national team commitments.
Choosing the right replacements for these premium players could be the difference between success and failure in your mini-leagues this season.
Here, we look at some of the best Salah and Son replacements.
Fantasy Premier League: Best replacements for Salah and Son:
Jarrod Bowen – West Ham (£8.1m)
Jarrod Bowen will be a popular selection to replace Salah and Son for non-owners, with the West Ham winger the third-highest scoring midfielder in FPL behind that duo.
Bowen has 11 goals and two assists in 19 appearances for the Hammers this season, while he has spent large periods at centre-forward in the absence of Michail Antonio.
The England international has averaged 5.8 points per game this season and forms part of a West Ham team who have found form under David Moyes. The Irons lost just one of their last nine Premier League games and have recorded four consecutive clean sheets.
Jarrod Bowen’s run of returns came to an end in Gameweek 20 ❌
Are you backing the midfielder to bounce back in GW21 against Sheff Utd? ⚒️#FPL pic.twitter.com/sQBQPAHQJG
— Fantasy Premier League (@OfficialFPL) January 3, 2024
The East Londoners travel to face bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United in Gameweek 21, before clashes with Bournemouth (H) and Manchester United (A).
Phil Foden – Manchester City (£7.9m)
Phil Foden has found his form in recent weeks and is an attractive option for FPL managers in search of goals and assists from midfield. The Manchester City man has returned 20 points in his last two appearances, after a goal and two assists against Everton and Sheffield United.
Foden is thriving in a central role for the Citizens, who face struggling Burnley (H), Brentford (A) and Everton (H) in their next four league games.
Kevin De Bruyne’s (£10.3m) return offers an alternative route into the Manchester City midfield, with last season’s leading assist provider back in first-team training.
Cole Palmer – Chelsea (£5.7m)
Cole Palmer has been a revelation since swapping Manchester City for Chelsea in the summer, with the 21-year-old’s decision to depart in search of regular minutes rewarded in West London.
Palmer has eight goals and five assists in FPL this season, proving brilliant value for money at his price tag of £5.7m. Only Jude Bellingham has been directly involved in more goals among u-21 players in Europe’s top five leagues this season, while Palmer’s penalty-taking status adds to his appeal, even given Chelsea’s unpredictable performances.
Ice cold. ❄️ pic.twitter.com/qXa2i5FPts
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 31, 2023
Palmer returned a season-high of 18 points in the win at Luton in GW20, with the versatile forward now the centre-piece of the Chelsea attack under Mauricio Pochettino.
Leon Bailey – Aston Villa (£5.7m)
Another bargain offering, Leon Bailey has been in superb form for Aston Villa this season.
The Jamaica international has grown in influence in recent weeks and has 11 goal involvements in eight league starts for Unai Emery’s side. Only Erling Haaland (1.25) can better Bailey’s 1.15 Goals and Assists per 90 this season, while no player has a higher non-penalty Goals and Assists per 90 figure than the winger.
Villa face relegation-battling Everton (A) and Sheffield United (A) in their next three, alongside a home clash with injury-hit Newcastle. The Magpies are the second-worst travellers in the Premier League this season and have lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions.
Richarlison – Tottenham (£6.9m)
Ange Postecoglou will need his forward line to step up in the absence of Son Heung-min, as the South Korean striker departs for the Asian Cup.
Son is the club’s leading scorer with 12 goals in the Premier League this season, and Richarlison will be among the names expected to fill the void. The Brazilian has bounced back from a difficult debut season in North London and has found form in recent weeks, with five goals in his last five Premier League appearances.
????????Richarlison Attack Rank since his return from injury(GW16):
Non Penalty xG- 1st
Big Chances- 1st
Goals- Joint 1st
FPL Points- 2ndStill at only 7% ownership ????
Good replacement for Salah/Son at only £6.9 million✅Are you getting him in? ????#FPL #FPLCommunity pic.twitter.com/aJQb5SvXuu
— ALLABOUTFPL (@allaboutfpl) January 3, 2024
Richarlison will lead the line for Spurs in the coming weeks, as the club look to continue their push for Champions League qualification. Despite issues defensively with key players absent, Spurs will be confident of results from clashes with Manchester United (A), Brentford (H) and Everton (A) in their upcoming schedule.
Read – Five forwards set to dominate the January transfer window headlines
See more – A brilliant XI of the Premier League’s best ever January signings