Transfer Window – FPL Fantasy Football Premier League Tips

Transfer Window – FPL Fantasy Football Premier League Tips

The January ‘Transfer Window’ came to a close last Friday night and if we’re being honest it wasn’t the most exciting window in recent memory, even ‘Mr Excitement’ Jim White struggled to look thrilled as 11pm loomed. Obviously the biggest transfer during January was that of Juan Mata to United, but the biggest talking points of ‘Deadline Day’ were those transfers that didn’t take place as Arsenal failed to stump up the cash for Julian Draxler while Liverpool encountered a stubborn Ukrainian billionaire who refused to sign the papers allowing Yehven Konoplyanka move to Merseyside. However, there were still quite a number of deals made throughout January, some exciting, and some not so exciting and below we discuss just a handful of them.

DEFENDERS

Marcos Alonso

Gus Poyet’s first signing for Sunderland brought ex-Bolton player Marcos Alonso back to the Premier League. The 23 year old has signed on loan from Fiorentina for the remainder of the season. Struggling to become a regular for the Italians, Poyet’s presence was a major factor in Alonso signing for the Black Cats. He started his career in his native Spain coming through Real Madrid’s academy and playing for the B side. He then moved to Bolton for around £2.5m but struggled to nail down a left back spot, making only nine appearances over two seasons. Upon the clubs relegation he gained more game time; scoring four and assisting twice in 26 appearances. He has represented Spain at under 19 level. At £4.5m in the FPL he offers reasonable value in a Sunderland defence that is starting to tighten up under Poyet. That said, Bardsley is the same price and has already scored twice and Brown is 0.2 cheaper, with an assist and is a guaranteed starter (when fit and not suspended!). The Spaniard certainly likes to rampage down the wing and has demonstrated decent returns in the past, he has also played 90 minutes in his first four games since signing.

Ryan Bertrand

A season long loan brings a player with fantasy potential back to the fore. Aston Villa have acquired Ryan Bertrand to stiffen up a defence that could provide good returns over the coming weeks with a nice run of fixtures. The left back has been unfortunate in that he has been up against a Chelsea regular; Ashley Cole. This has meant he has spent most of his Chelsea career out on loan or acting as cover. Bertrand has consistently provided assists and the odd goal. The English man also picked up Reading’s player of the year in the 2009/10 season. The 24 year-old has represented England at a number of age grades and has two senior caps. Bertrand could be an excellent budget defender, with Villa having a kind run of fixtures and the potential to add a few goals and assists. At £4.4m in the FPL he rivals the Claret’s current defenders price but adds the experience of his time at Chelsea.

Fabio Da Silva

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used his Manchester United contacts to bring two Red Devils to Cardiff on transfer deadline day, with the first being fullback Fabio Da Silva. Largely in the shadows of brother Rafael, he has never really had an impact for club or fantasy managers alike, this may now change. Cardiff are proving a budget friendly defence that showed the ability to keep clean sheets at the start of the season. A tricky set of fixtures have now been navigated and calmer waters have been entered, and it’s quite possible that clean sheets may soon arrive. At £4.1m in the FPL, they don’t get much more budget friendly and Solskjaer has already alluded to the Brazilians flair and pace, hopefully leading to attacking returns too. Fabio walked straight into the team and he could be the ultimate differential with just 0.7% ownership!

MIDFIELDERS

Juan Mata

The big signing of the January transfer window came midway through, with the mercurial Juan Mata moving from Chelsea to Manchester United for around £37m. The Spaniard started at Real Madrid but failed to break into the first team so moved to Valencia where he established himself as one of the best at his trade; 28 goals and 35 assists in around 100 appearances. In 2011 he was sold to Chelsea for over £23m where he became a firm favourite with all involved (two ‘fans player of the year’ awards); all except Jose Mourinho. Falling out of favour with the ‘Special One’, apparently due to his work rate especially his inability to track back. It has also been suggested the Chelsea boss is using Mata against his title rivals; Chelsea have played United twice but the Red Devils still have to play a number of the Blues title rivals! Mata has a point to prove and so could be an excellent acquisition as Manchester United hit a kind run of fixtures. He will want to prove his worth in a World Cup year. At £9.7m (down from £10.5m at the start of the season) he is not cheap but has proved to be an excellent FPL player over the last few seasons. Mata could reignite a United strike force that has relied on Rooney’s creativity recently and with an assist in each of his first two games it is clear that the Spaniard is quickly settling into life at Old Trafford.

Nemanja Matic

Matic returns to Stamford Bridge for his second, and hopefully, more successful stint. His first foray into English football will be most remembered for being a makeweight for David Luiz. Since then he has become a far more established and respected player, picking up Primeira Liga Player of the Year in the 2012/13 season. The 25 year old defensive midfielder will vie with Lampard, Obi Mikel, Luiz and Ramires in the double pivotal role. Priced at £6.0m in the FPL game and with The ‘Special One’ already suggesting he will be a bit-part-player for the remainder of this season; there would appear to be better prospects for this price, especially when you consider that it is quite likely he will be deployed as a defensive midfielder.

Mohamed Salah

Chelsea added to their ever expanding midfield ranks with the Egyptian International Mohamed Salah. The 21 year old who was also reportedly a target of Liverpool was signed from FC Basel for around £11m. Salah came through the ranks at Egyptian club El Mokawloon scoring 11 and assisting three in 38. He then moved to Basel in 2012 where he scored 20 and assisted 17 in 79 games. The Egyptian has scored 21 and provided 15 assists in 45 games for his country. Jose Mourinho is spoilt for choice in the midfield department, even with the departure of Juan Mata. Whilst Salah has been utilised in the ‘hole’ at previous clubs, Oscar has appears to have that spot now, while Hazard also appears to be a guaranteed starter. This leaves him vying for the final attacking midfield spot with the likes of Willian and Schurrle. At £6.5m in the FPL he is certainly a good price but with so many midfielders fighting for one spot he appears to be one for the future.

Aiden McGeady

27 year old McGeady has signed a four and a half year contract with Everton and has admitted he is delighted to sign for a team managed by Roberto Martinez, admitting the Spanish manager’s attacking style of football will suit him well. McGeady has a scoring pedigree that started in Scotland with Celtic where he scored 37 and assisted 83 over a four year period. This gained the Irishman the SFA Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year in 2008. McGeady then moved to Spartak Moscow for £9.5m in 2010 where he continued to score regularly. He has played 63 times for the Republic of Ireland, scoring three and assisting 16. McGeady will provide a different attacking weapon for the Toffees; able to play on either wing he will likely support Lukaku and compete with Mirallas and Pienaar. Making his debut away to West Brom, he looked tricky and full of attacking intent. By his own admission he is lacking match fitness, coming back from the Russian break however he was afforded a start against Villa at the weekend. At £6.0m in the FPL, if he can cement himself in the Everton midfield and show the scoring returns of his younger days, he could be an excellent mid-priced option.

Magnus Wolff Eikrem

Ole Gunner Solskjaer has reunited his acquaintance with Magnus Wolff Eikrem; the third time they have worked together. The 23 year old playmaker started at Molde before moving to Manchester United at the age of 16. He made it to the reserve team, managed by the baby faced assassin, but made no appearances for the first team and so moved back to Molde. Solskjaer followed him to the Norwegian club where they won two league titles with Eikrem scoring six and assisting 12 from 68 appearances. He then had a brief spell at Dutch team Heerenveen, before moving onto Wales. Eikrem has represented Norway 13 times. He has already provided an assist against at high-flying Manchester City on only his second appearance and looks likely to play in the double-pivot role with the likes of Medel to utilise his passing ability. His manager has also praised his set piece ability. At £4.8m in the FPL he is worth putting on the watch list but with Mutch at £4.6m and Noone at £4.3m both providing attacking returns recently, there appears to be cheaper midfielders with the potential to return attacking points in the Bluebirds midfield. It should also be noted that Norwegian has failed to make an appearance in either of the clubs last two games.

Wilfred Zaha

Cardiff’s 2nd arrival from Manchester on deadline day was Wilfired Zaha. Zaha is arguably one of the bigger deals of the day, signing on loan for the rest of the season. The 21 year old was one of the stars of the Championship over the past few seasons prompting United to spend a fee reported to be in the region of £10m for him in the previous January window before loaning him back to Palace for the remainder of last season. His form at Palace resulted in him being rewarded with two England caps. Unfortunately for the youngster it hasn’t quite worked out for him at United, but he will be hoping that this spell in Wales will allow him to prove to David Moyes that he is good enough to play at this level. His direct play from the wing will potentially help Cardiff & fantasy managers alike and he gave us all a glimpse of his abilities as he climbed off the bench on Saturday to create the equaliser against Norwich and in the process earned the praise of his manager. At £5.4m in the FPL, he is certainly one to monitor.

Tom Ince

Crystal Palace had a busy final day of the transfer window signing five players! The biggest of which was Tom Ince from Blackpool on loan for the rest of the season. The 22 year old has been a stunning success in the championship for the last three seasons, averaging roughly a goal every three games and he will be hoping to use his stint with the Eagles as a platform to secure a summer move to a bigger side. If Ince can settle into the premier league quickly he could prove to be an excellent addition to your midfield. Priced at £5.5m might cause many fantasy managers to take a wait and see attitude but if he can make the step up to the Premier League he could be an excellent alternative as your ‘cheapie’ fifth midfielder.

FORWARDS

Lacina Traore

Everton have added to their attacking line in the shape of 6’8 Lacina Traore who has been brought in on loan until the end of the season. The big forward is well travelled, having stints in France, Romania, and a big money move to Russia before a return to France with Monaco. He has been a very consistent scorer, averaging nearly a goal every other game. Traore has also scored seven in 12 appearances for the Ivory Coast Under-23 and senior side. The Ivorian is currently injured and is expected to be out for at least the next two weeks. It will be interesting to see how Martinez utilises him once fit. From the managers comments it appears he is happy with current loan forward Romelu Lukaku but surely Martinez will give the Ivorian a chance to establish himself in the side given Lukaku’s recent ineffectiveness, which has resulted in him not scoring since GW19. A price tag of £7.5m could tempt some fantasy managers particularly if he he can hit the ground running once he is fit.

Luke de Jong

Newcastle moved in to the transfer market soon after losing Yohan Cabaye to PSG to bring in Dutch footballer Luke de Jong. He arrives on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach for the remainder of the season. The Dutch international started his career at De Graafschap where he scored three goals in 19 appearances, this lead to a move to FC Twente. He was a popular player at Twente, scoring 59 goals in 119 appearances over a three year period collecting the league title and three cups in his time there. The 23 year old was also leading goal scorer (and provided the most assists) in two of his three seasons at the club and received high praise from manager Steve McLaren. De Jong started to draw attention from a number of clubs all over Europe (ironically including Newcastle) and after requesting a move, signed for German side Borussia Mönchengladbach for over £12m. The Dutchman started promisingly but, after a falling out with manager Lucien Favre, fell down the pecking order and has found first team appearances harder to come by this season. De Jong scored eight in 45 appearances for the German side. He is a big, physical player that Alan Pardew thinks will be better suited to life in the Premier League over the Bundesliga. At £6.5m in the FPL he is certainly one to add to the watch list.

Konstantinos Mitroglou

Fulham moved fast to replace Dimitar Berbatov, bringing in Greek international Konstantinos Mitroglou for £12.5m from Olympiakos. The 25 year old is hot property at the minute, scoring 23 goals in 26 games this season, including 4 hat-tricks, one of which came against Anderlecht in the Champions League. It is reported Mitroglou can score with either foot, is equally competent with his head, strong and able to hold the ball up and therefore he should be well suited to the English game. At £6.5m in the FPL he is potentially a real prospect, the only issue is whether or not Fulham will create enough chances for him. Fulham have a mixed bag of fixtures till the end of the season but at his budget price he could be an ideal third forward.

Shane Long

If rumours are to be believed Hull had a bid for Shane Long turned down by West Brom back in the summer, however they were not to be deterred and Steve Bruce finally got his man as Hull paid a fee reported to be in the region on £6.0m. The Irishman made the move from his homeland to Reading back in 2005 and went on to score 54 goals in 201 games for the Royals. His performances for Reading led to a move to West Brom back in August of 2011 and he went on to score 22 goals in 87 appearances for the Baggies. He has also scored 10 international goals in 43 appearances. Bruce will be hoping that Long can form an effective partnership with his other new striker Nikica Jelavic and Long certainly appears to have settled in having opened his account at the weekend. His price has dropped to £5.6m from a starting point of £6.5m and at this price he will surely interest many fantasy managers.

This article was written by NZ Alex.