Transfer Window Watch

Typically subdued during the day, the Premier League transfer window deadline came to life in the final hours as several clubs swooped to boost their ranks ahead of the season run-in. Here’s our summary of the main forays into the market, with a quick assessment of their likely impact for Fantasy Football managers.

Further, more in-depth Scout Reports on the major targets will follow later this week.

Robbie Brady to Burnley
After failing in their attempts to sign Robert Snodgrass from Hull City, Burnley turned to Norwich City’s Robbie Brady in a club-record transfer, believed to be worth up to a possible £13 million.

The 25-year-old penned a three-and-a-half- year contract with the Clarets, with the option for another year, and could be available to make his debut against Watford on Saturday.

Although a versatile left-sided player, the pursuit of Snodgrass suggests that Sean Dyche was looking to add to his resources in the wide positions, so it appears that Brady has been bought to play primarily on the left wing.

He’ll be competing with the likes of Scott Arfield, George Boyd and Johann Berg Gudmundsson for a place in the starting XI, then, although all four players, particularly Boyd and Gudmundsson, are also capable of playing down the right flank.

Brady, who starred at Euro 2016, has been priced at 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), and could present us with an interesting budget midfield option, particularly if he is entrusted with some of Burnley’s set-piece duties.

But bearing in mind that the Clarets were also heavily linked with a move for Hull’s Andrew Robertson over the window, a potential move to left-back would lessen his appeal as a potential reverse out of position pick.

He has also been a penalty taker for some of his clubs, and at international level, so his viability as a Fantasy asset could well boil down to those set-piece duties, providing Dyche has earmarked the Irishman for a midfield berth.

Ashley Westwood to Burnley
With Dean Marney ruled out for the season with a knee injury sustained against Arsenal in Gameweek 22, Sean Dyche bolstered his midfield options with the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Turf Moor and will compete with the likes of Steven Defour, Jeff Hendrick, Joey Barton and Scott Arfield for a starting spot in central midfield.

During his four seasons in the Premier League with Villa, Westwood registered five goals and 11 assists in 124 appearances, and, like Brady may compete for set-piece duties.

As more of a natural holding midfielder, Westwood could well command a regular first-team place at Turf Moor, but with limited attacking potential, it’s unlikely he’ll come onto our radars for the remainder of the season.

A price tag of between 4.5 and 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is likely for the Crewe Alexandra product.

Mouez Hassen to Southampton
With back-up goalkeeper Alex McCarthy set to be sidelined for at least another two months due to a hamstring injury, Saints boss Claude Puel moved to sign Nice goalkeeper Mouez Hassen on a five-month loan deal.

The two previously worked together during Puel’s four-year stint in charge at Nice, and after youngster Harry Lewis struggled in last Saturday’s 5-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup, the Southampton manager clearly felt the need to bring in an able deputy for first-choice stopper Fraser Forster.

Veteran Stuart Taylor is also on the books at St Mary’s, but doesn’t appear to have the trust of Puel.

Hassen is unlikely to provide much worth as a Fantasy asset unless Forster suffers an injury or suspension during the second half of the season, with a price tag of 4.5 expected in FPL.

Andrea Ranocchia to Hull City
New Hull City head coach Marco Silva had been looking to strengthen his central defensive options even before the news broke that Curtis Davies will be out for around eight weeks with a hamstring injury picked up during Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup.

So he’ll have been relieved to secure the services of the Italian international Andrea Ranocchia, who joins from Inter Milan on loan until the end of the season.

Ranocchia will compete with 4.4-priced pair Michael Dawson and Harry Maguire for a starting berth in defence for the time being, then, although Silva could look to start with all three in either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, while Maguire is also capable of playing at right-back.

The 28-year-old has been limited to just five league appearances so far this season, but has previously captained the club, and arrives at the KCOM Stadium with good pedigree.

Ranocchia has only scored 10 league goals in his career, though, and while he’s been priced at 4.5 in FPL, it’s unlikely he’ll prove to be a popular Fantasy asset. By comparison, Dawson has already netted three times this term, while Maguire has boasted a considerable goal threat since recently nailing down a regular starting role.

Jordan Ayew to Swansea City
The Welsh outfit completed their January business with a swap deal that saw Aston Villa forward Jordan Ayew move to the Liberty Stadium, with defender Neil Taylor heading in the opposite direction.

Swansea also paid an undisclosed fee, reportedly of up to £5 million, to secure the services of the Ghana international.

The 25-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Swans, and will link up with his new team-mates following the Africa Cup of Nations.

Ayew scored seven goals in 30 Premier League appearances for Villa last season, and is comfortable playing on either flank, as well as a central striker.

The former Marseille player has been priced at 5.0 in FPL, and classified as a forward.

Suddenly there is plenty of competition in Swansea’s attack, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente appearing certain starters in the front three, while fellow new boy Luciano Narsingh offers an alternative to Wayne Routledge.

Ayew, therefore, appears to face a battle to secure regular starts.

The signings of Ayew and Narsingh should provide plenty of much-needed pace to the Swansea side, though, with Paul Clement now likely to favour a more counter-attacking approach, particularly in away matches.

Luka Milivojevic to Crystal Palace
The first of two deadline day deals for Crystal Palace, Olympiakos midfielder Luka Milivojevic joined the Eagles for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £11 million.

The 25-year-old deep-lying playmaker signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Selhurst Park, and could come into contention to make his debut against Sunderland on Saturday.

Milivojevic has represented Serbia 19 times at international level, and looks set to take over from the likes of Mathieu Flamini and Joe Ledley as Palace’s first-choice holding midfield player, allowing the likes of Yohan Cabaye and James McArthur to operate slightly further up the pitch.

The Serbian does have a decent goalscoring record given he’s not a particularly attack-minded player, having scored six times in 17 league appearances so far this season, but priced at 5.0 in FPL, he’s unlikely to come into our thinking.

It’s his ability to shore things up in midfield that could be more pivotal, with last night’s first clean sheet under Sam Allardyce perhaps a sign of Big Sam starting to work his magic at the back, and potentially bringing Palace defenders onto our radars.

Mamadou Sakho to Crystal Palace
In perhaps one of the most significant moves of the January window, Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho joined Crystal Palace on loan until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old had fallen out of favour under Jurgen Klopp due to a number of off-the-field issues, but should be able to help secure a Palace defence that has the joint-fourth worst defensive record so far this season, conceding 41 goals in 23 matches.

Sam Allardyce has also brought in both Patrick van Aanholt and Jeffrey Schlupp during this transfer window, and with his track record for producing sides that are hard to beat, it’s likely he’ll be able to improve upon that poor defensive record during the second half of the season.

Sakho is now available at just 4.7 in FPL, and providing he emerges as a regular starter as we expect, he should offer solid value.

He has only managed two goals during his time at Anfield, though, and with Van Aanholt, Schlupp and Scott Dann all offering more of an attacking threat, we now appear spoilt for choice for Eagles defenders.

Time will tell who will provide the best value, but the presence of French international Sakho should certainly provide another important building block in Big Sam’s attempt to improve significantly on the meagre two clean sheets Palace have managed this season.

Molla Wague to Leicester City
Having allowed Luis Hernandez to depart for Malaga earlier in the transfer window, Leicester City were in need of further defensive reinforcements and brought in Granada defender Molla Wague on loan until the end of the season.

The versatile 25-year-old, who can operate at both centre-back and at right-back, had been on loan at Italian side Udinese during the first half of the season, but was limited to just six league appearances.

Wague could put pressure on underperforming centre-backs Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, and right-back Danny Simpson for a starting place, then, and has been kindly priced at 4.5 in FPL.

If he can force his way into the starting XI, Wague could present us with a decent budget option, although there’ll need to be an improvement in the Foxes defence to really warrant us bringing in a member of their backline.

Alfred N’Diaye to Hull City
Having sold Jake Livermore to West Brom, and lost Ryan Mason to injury, Hull head coach Marco Silva strengthened his central midfield options with the signing of Villarreal’s Alfred N’Diaye on loan until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old, who spent a brief spell with Sunderland during the 2012/13 season, making 16 league appearances, is predominantly as a defensive midfield player, although he can also cover at centre-back.

N’Diaye, who has played eight times for Senegal, could compete with the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Sam Clucas for a place in the Tigers midfield, then, and should provide some extra physicality in that area.

The 4.5-priced midfielder is unlikely to earn any investment as a Fantasy asset given his limited attacking threat, but his presence may be able to provide improved protection in front of the Hull defence.

Kamil Grosicki to Hull City
In one of the more “left-field” transfers made on deadline day, Hull signed Poland international Kamil Grosicki from French side Rennes for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £7 million.

The 28-year-old winger arrives at the KCOM Stadium having scored four goals and registered three assists in 16 league appearances so far this season, and could represent something of a coup for Hull based on his performances for Poland during Euro 2016.

Capable of playing on either flank, although he generally operates on the right, Grosicki should help fill the creative void left by Robert Snodgrass, with his ability to produce key passes one of his major strengths.

Grosicki has represented Poland 48 times, scoring nine goals and registering an impressive 14 assists, and given his pedigree looks certain to command a regular starting spot for the Tigers.

His signing suggests Silva will look to use either his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, or perhaps a 3-4-3, to get the best from Grosicki.

Providing he settles quickly, the Pole could attract plenty of investment given the Tigers are one of only six teams currently guaranteed a fixture in Gameweek 28, when they host Swansea.

Manolo Gabbiadini to Southampton
In one of the biggest deals made in the January transfer window, Southampton signed Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth around £15 million.

The 25-year-old, who has been capped six times by Italy, scoring one goal, arrives at St Mary’s after seeing his first-team opportunities limited this season.

Gabbiadini, who plays predominantly as a central striker, did score 25 goals in 79 matches for Napoli, with many of those appearances coming as a substitute.

Strong in the air, Gabbiadini will bolster the attacking options available to Saints boss Claude Puel, who will remain without Charlie Austin for a few more months due to a shoulder injury, while Jay Rodriguez has missed the last two matches with an ankle problem.

Shane Long did get on the scoresheet in last night’s 2-1 defeat to Swansea, but given the significant outlay made on Gabbiadini, the Italian looks set to be given the opportunity to establish himself as Southampton’s central striker.

He’s been priced at 6.5 in FPL, and should he settle quickly into English football, could provide us with another viable option in the mid-price bracket.

Adlene Guedioura to Middlesbrough
After failing in attempts to bring in Robert Snodgrass and Spanish midfielder Jese Rodriguez to the Riverside, ‘Boro head coach Aitor Karanka managed to sign Watford midfielder Adlene Guedioura for an undisclosed fee, reportedly worth up to £4 million.

The 31-year-old Algerian looks set to compete with the likes of Adam Clayton, Adam Forshaw, Marten de Roon and Grant Leadbitter for a place in ‘Boro’s midfield, although he can also operate down the right flank.

Guedioura, who is priced at 4.3 in FPL, did struggle for first-team football at Watford, though, and is unlikely to be a viable Fantasy option due to his limited attacking potential, and the likelihood of him being a rotation risk.

Marc Wilson to West Bromwich Albion
In need of some defensive cover, West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis moved to sign Bournemouth defender Marc Wilson on loan until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old is capable of playing all across the backline, and even in a defensive midfield role, but failed to make a single league appearance for the Cherries during the first half of the season.

The Republic of Ireland international, who is available at 3.9 in FPL, was sidelined by a few niggling injuries, but it would be a surprise if he gets much first-team football at The Hawthorns, despite his previous relationship with Pulis from their time at Stoke City.