Transfer round up Part 6

Transfer round up Part 6

Carl Jenkinson (DEF – 5.0)
The story from the training ground is that when Jenkinson first heard the rumors about going to West Ham, he thought it was some classic good honest English banter. He was still laughing when he was taken down into East London and presented with his very own West Ham shirt. “OMG guys, you’ve even put my name on the back! Wait, you look a lot like Fat Sa… Oh sh*t.”. The writing was probably on the wall when Debuchy signed. The writing was firmly underlined when Chambers rocked up at London Colney. So what now for young Jenkinson? Based on last season’s stats, Jenkinson is actually a decent young attacking full-back. Unfairly blamed for the 8-2 hammering Arsenal took at Old Trafford, he has responded well when given the chance. (And the fact this is only a loan move suggests that Wenger sees a return to the Emirates at some point in the future.) In just under 9 games worth of playing time last season (803 mins), Jenko (lazy typist) notched up 1 goal, 2 assists, and 7 bonus points. Not too shabby. Priced at 5.0m he’s on a par with most of the likely first choice West Ham defence. If Jenko can displace Demel as the first choice right back, then he’s a decent shout for assist potential in a pretty mean defence.

Ryan Bertrand (DEF – 5.0)
“Sorry Ryan, we don’t have an Entrance at St Marys. You’ll have to use one of the many Exits.”
Once Bertrand fought his way through the traffic, all seemingly heading in the other direction, the young left-back found himself in a pretty good position for some first team Premier League football.
As with Jenko, this is only a loan deal, which suggests that Mourinho rates him for a return to The Bridge at some point. Either that or Mourinho just doesn’t like him. More on Lukaku later. Speaking after his move was announced, the Champions League winner said: “For me personally, this is another chance to play and a chance to join a fantastic club that’s moving in the right direction.” So other than a sh*t sense of direction, what is there to say about young Ryan?… On the upside, the guy knows how to fit into a new team (this will represent the seventh club that Bertrand has been shipped out on loan to). Koeman has also pretty much confirmed that Bertrand will be the regular left back. (Sorry to those taking a punt on 4.0m Targett!)
On the downside… He becomes only the third 5.0m+ defender in the Southampton squad, which implies that there is a least one cheaper way into the Saints defence. His stats last season were also far from amazing. No goals or assists in over 16 games worth of playing time.

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Romelu Lukaku (FWD – 9.0)
Firstly, just where the hell did Everton find £28m?! Presumably the market rate for scrap metal has rocketed and everyone in Merseyside is now driving around with a few less hubcaps. There is literally no other explanation. Everton are perhaps the biggest beneficiaries from the Southampton 2for1 sale. In a normal season they would have spent the summer fighting rumours about all their young stars leaving for greener grass. As it turns out, Barkley, Stones, etc are still there, and they have finally managed to find someone to fill the boots of mighty Kevin Campbell. (Look him up).

After a poor world cup, Lukaku will presumably be fired up and ready to add to his 15 goals, 9 assists and 21 bonus points from last season’s 31 appearances. At 9.0m he doesn’t come cheap though and is the games 6th most expensive striker. £0.5m more than Giroud, Dzeko and Bony and a whopping £2.0m more than Andy Carroll. Ok, that last one is justified. He is all but guaranteed to start every game and if Martinez can convince Mirallas to pass to him, Lukaku could be one of this seasons big scorers.

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Patrick van Aanholt (DEF – 4.5)
After seeing left back Alonso return home (after a loan spell) and Bardsley being used to entice Bojan to Stoke, van Aanholt rightly feels he can establish himself as a regular first-teamer at the Black Cats. After various loan spells out from parent club Chelsea, this is van Aanholt’s first real chance to show if he can make it in the Premiership. After just a handful of appearances at Chelsea, van Aanholt played the last couple of seasons in his homeland for Vitesse where last season alone he racked up an impressive five goals and five assists. “Yeah but it’s a weaker league, blah blah blah” says Raz. But I disagree! Those stats are good for a left back wherever you’re playing. At 4.5m and an all but guaranteed starting place, Van Aanholt could be a great route into the Sunderland defence, especially if you’re one of the managers nervous over which of Mannone/ Panty will line up in goal!

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Harry Maguire (DEF – 4.5) and Andrew Robertson (DEF – 4.5)
Sorry chaps, it’s late, and I just can’t justify giving you each your own section.
‘The Hull boys’ as Maggie and Robbo are known (in my house) are summer signings number four and five in what has been a busy summer already for Steve Bruce. Despite being only 21 years old, centre Back Maguire has been bossing League One for years (appeared in the PFA’s league one team of the year for the last three seasons and was Sheffield Utds Player and Young Player of the year in 2012). He played 52 times for United last season, scoring 6 goals.

Priced at 4.5 and with a bright future ahead of him, Maguire will be battling Chester, Davies and the managers’ son for a place in Hulls back three (or will it be four?). It’ll be worth keeping a close eye on the rest of Pre-Season to see how he fits in. Now, over to Robbo…

20 year old Scotland international left back Andrew Robertson has only been a professional footballer for a year! (There is hope for us all yet.) Robertson’s meteoric rise continues at the Tigers following his move from the amateur side Queen’s Park to Tannadice last summer. His first and only season with Dundee United saw him win the PFA Young Player of the year award and score 5 goals in 44 appearances, including a Henryesque solo effort run from his own half. With Hulls tendency towards attacking wing-back and if he can win the battle for a starting spot, he could be your poor mans Seamus Coleman.

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Dejan Lovren (DEF – 5.5)
What’s a 4 year contract worth when all your mates are moving up the road? After just one season at Southampton, 25 year old Lovren is following the well-trodden path up to Liverpool. The Croatian centre back will be hoping to claim a spot in arguably the weakest part of Rodgers team, and faces competition from Sakho, Skrtel, Toure and Agger, although the latter is rumored to be heading for the exit door. His stats last season included two goals, an assist and 17 bonus points and Rodgers has already spoken highly of Lovrens leadership skills. And let’s face it, you don’t spend £20m on a player for him to sit on the bench. Unless you’re Man City. Or Chelsea. Oh you get the point. He should be a starter, but at the same price as most of the players listed above (and 0.5m more expensive than Enrique), he’s probably not top of the list in that team or price range.

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Best of the rest…
Muhamed Besic (MID – 5.0)
“Surely he needs to spend a season on loan before we sign him?!”. “Played in the World cup you say?”. “Good enough for me. Sign him up.” Muhamed Besic joins the Toffees alongside Lukaku and Barry in what has been a good summer for Everton. At 21 years old he’s already a Bosnian international and is likely to provide competition for places in central midfield as well as being able to slot in at centre back. Listed as a midfielder, he’s not expected to be a points magnet.

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Calum Chambers (DEF – 4.5)
Apparently Luke Shaw’s price tag has kicked off silly season on prices for young English full backs. But wait, he’s not a full back says Mr Wenger! He can play full back, centre back or central midfield, and he’s one for the future. Hmm. Not the words a fantasy manager likes to hear. I suspect that despite his £16m price tag, young Calum will spend a large part of this season sitting on the bench as he waits for FA cup games and/or injuries to Debuchy. If Vermaelen leaves and doesn’t get replaced then he has an outside chance of deputizing at centre back as he did in yesterdays friendly game but that’s a long shot. At 4.5m and the hefty price tag you may be tempted, but I suggest you spend the additional cash on a safer option if you really need it into the Arsenal defence.

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David Ospina (GK – 5.0)
After 5 years of the world wondering “will it be Barca?, will it be Madrid?, or will it be Bayern that snaps up this talent?…”. Ok, so no one had heard of him before the World Cup, and no one would be interested if he wasn’t into the last year of his contract. But that’s not the point. Wenger’s head has been turned, and the replacement to Flappyhandski has been found. Wenger claims that Ospina is at Arsenal to challenge Sir Chesney for the number one jersey. We’ll see. Worth waiting for the opening weeks team sheets to come out before taking a punt on this one.

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Fraizer Campbell (FWD – 5.5)
A Premier League player signed for under £1m?? Does he have one leg? Is he over 40 years old? Is he George Weah’s cousin? No. He is Poundland to the Premierleagues Selfridges. He is Greggs to the Premierleagues Waitrose. He is Mito to the Premier Leagues Cookie. He is Frazier Campbell.

The 26 year old is the first major signing for Pulis after what was a solid season for Palace last time out. Campbell scored 9 goals in 39 appearances for Cardiff last season (6 goals and 4 assists in the league) and will provide another striking option alongside Murray, Chamakh and Gayle. Tough to get excited about this one. Time will tell who Pulis prefers.

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Didier Drogba (FWD – 6.5)
A familiar name at last. At 6.5m Drogba is rightly going to get a lot of Fantasy attention. Mourinho has already spoken that he feels Drogba’s lost none of the attributes that made him such a formidable Premier League striker in years gone by. In his last full season in the Premiership (’10/’11) Drogba notched 12 goals, 15 assists and 26 bonus points. The question mark now though will be over game time and how he’ll fit in now that Costa is on board. If Mourinho sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation then you’d think that most of Drogba’s game time will come from the bench. If there is a sniff of the Drogba/ Costa partnership in the Chelsea starting lineup however, then this could be the bargain of the season.

Transfer round up Part 6 – Fantasy Premier League tips 2014/15. This article was written by chinsandbellies Follow @chinsandbellies