Window of Opportunity

With the January transfer window now open and the second wildcard available to all Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Managers up until the game week 27 deadline (12 Feb 11.30), transfer activity is rife, both in reality and in the world of Fantasy Football.

The window has been notoriously uneventful in the past and many of the talked-about deals could well amount to little more than pure newspaper speculation. However, with some potential bargains in the making to be considered, we decided to run the rule over the players that could perhaps be resurrected as Fantasy prospects should they complete moves this month…

Carlos Vela

Linked With: Bolton

Fantasy Prospects:
The Mexican is way down the pecking order at the Emirates and is rumoured to be attracting the interests of up to ten clubs. Arsene Wenger has revealed he is considering an offer from Bolton, in a move that mirrors Jack Wilshere’s successful loan move to the Reebok last season. Wenger is keen for the player to get more game time, which suggest that wherever Vela ends up, he’s guaranteed a fair amount of first-team action.

Providing he stays in the Premier League, Vela-priced at just £4.4m- will certainly be a budget-friendly option for those Fantasy Managers looking to save money up front, with so many richer high-performance options to plunder in midfield.

Stephen Ireland

Linked With: Fulham, Stoke, Liverpool

Fantasy Prospects:
Whether on a loan deal or permanent basis, Ireland looks certain to depart Villa Park in the New Year following a fall out with Gerard Houllier. Villa’s recent December defeat at Man City saw Ireland unable to even command a place on the bench, an indication of how far his stock has fallen under the Frenchman.

Ireland looked a bargain at the start of the season when priced at £6.5m in August; he’s now down to £5.9m. If he can replicate the form that saw him accumulate 160 FPL points two seasons ago, the midfielder could well be worth a punt.

Seb Larsson

Linked With: Newcastle, Sunderland

Fantasy Prospects:
Larsson is out of contract in the summer and a move away from St Andrews could come to fruition before then, if Birmingham choose to cash in on their in-demand winger. This seems increasingly likely in lieu of David Bentley’s loan move from Tottenham.

Alex McLeish’s side have been poor in front of goal this season but Larsson has been their key provider, with five assists to his name so far. His crossing from the right flank and set-piece ability will be an asset to whichever club he ends up at and, priced at just £5.1m, the Swede could be a decent alternative midfielder, particularly if a move to somewhere like Newcastle, where the likes of Andy Carroll would thrive on his delivery. They remain the favourites for his signature, although ex-Birmingham gaffer Steve Bruce is also interested in bringing Larsson to the Stadium of Light to supply his trio of in-form forwards, Asamoah Gyan, Danny Welbeck and Darren Bent.

Gary Cahill

Linked With: Arsenal

Fantasy Prospects:
Summer signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci have failed to improve the Gunners defensively, and although Johan Djourou has recently showed signs of impressing, Arsenal have picked up just six clean sheets so far this season. With Thomas Vermaelen suffering a further setback with his back injury, Wenger has also confirmed that he is in the market for a replacement; Cahill is surely on his list of targets.

A firm favourite amongst the Bonus Points judges but a move to a team like Arsenal would surely see a dip in such returns for Cahill; he has chalked up 13 already, but at the Emirates he would have the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as competition, a sure sign of them diminishing. A return to the scoring form that saw him grab 5 last season would balance that out, though. At £5.4m, he would surely be up for consideration should Bolton’s financial situation force him to be sold on.

Johan Elmander

Linked With: Liverpool

Fantasy Prospects:
With 9 goals, 5 assists and 13 Bonus Points, Elmander has the tenth-highest FPL total so far this season and has started to show his capabilities at Bolton following the departure of Gary Megson. Although he has risen £1m since the start of the season, the Swede currently sits at just £6.5m in FPL, which suggests he’d be a bargain almost regardless of where he moves. Rather than see him leave for free as a Bosman in the summer, Bolton could cash in just now and -providing Liverpool get their act together- the possibility of him partnering Fernando Torres would be one Fantasy Managers will definitely relish and is likely to boost his ownership further, particularly if the appointment of Kenny Dalglish can ignite the Reds’ season..

Matt Taylor

Linked With: Fulham

Fantasy Prospects:
The summer signing of Martin Petrov has limited the winger’s appearances on the Bolton left and a move away from the Reebok should heighten Taylor’s Fantasy appeal. There’s no denying his Premier League credentials; with a total of eighteen goals scored in his last two seasons, Taylor’s set-pieces and eye for the spectacular have lit up the top-flight. At just £5.2m, he will no doubt flicker on our radars should Mark Hughes spirit him away from Bolton.

Micah Richards

Linked With: Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea

Fantasy Prospects:
He’s recently admitted a desire for regular first-team football may force him to look elsewhere, with Roberto Mancini’s rotation being nothing more than a constant source of frustration now for the right-back. Performance-wise, Richards is showing more consistency than in previous seasons and should deliver some solid performances if he gets the chance to settle as a first-choice defender.

At £5.4m, he’s not overly expensive and, on top of any clean sheets, his attacking nature and strength at set-plays could prove dividend if he ends up at the right club.

Roque Santa Cruz

Linked With: Fulham

Fantasy Prospects:
Santa Cruz would no doubt do his career a big favour by linking up with Mark Hughes again. Three seasons ago, he netted nineteen times under Hughes at Blackburn and although he mightn’t scale the same heights this time round, Sparky would no doubt get the best out of him. At £6.5m, Santa Cruz looks the best value of all those seeking an Eastlands escape route.

Robbie Keane

Linked With: Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham, Wolves Birmingham, Newcastle

Fantasy Prospects:
Last January saw him move to Celtic on loan, but this time round the winter window should see Keane leave Spurs for good, as Harry Redknapp has admitted:

“It wouldn’t be a loan, it would be a permanent move. No way. If he is going to move he has to move permanently. But he would do a great job for someone.”

Keane’s FPL price – a meagre £4.8m in FPL- means he will definitely be worth consideration almost regardless of where he ends up; he has proven Premier League credentials and would be a nailed-on starter for any new team, though moving to a team battling the drop will surely limit his returns.

Nico Krancjar

Linked With: Fulham, West Ham, Everton

Fantasy Prospects:
With Spurs boasting a midfield that consists of Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart and Luka Modric, there’s little room for the Croatian playmaker. Krancjar has taken part in just three league games this season and his talent is too good to be wasted sitting on the Tottenham bench. A move to Everton has been mooted, but seems unlikely given the Merseysider’s money worries.

Krancjar is thought to be settled in London and rumours abound with a move to either Fulham or West Ham. His game is looked upon favourably by the Bonus judges, as he was awarded 14 last season. Priced at £6.3m, he is still costlier than the likes of Chris Brunt and Matt Etherington, and perhaps a move to a club of similar stature would allow him to be worthy of consideration.

Scott Parker

Linked With: Spurs

Fantasy Prospects:
A move to White Hart Lane has been on the radar for a couple of seasons now and yet always fails to materialise. Parker’s presence in the Hammers midfield will be fundamental to their survival and such is his importance to the club, it would seem that Avram Grant would be sowing the seeds of his own downfall were he to offload Parker.

With Spurs having implemented a more expansive passing game this term, the likes of Wilson Palacios has been found wanting, but there’s every chance a move to Tottenham would decrease £5.5m Parker’s Fantasy potential. With Bale and Van der Vaart (and now Luka Modric) vying for Bonus Points, his returns could quickly diminish, though a drop deeper could possibly see him become the Spurs equivalent of Barry Ferguson.

Charles N’Zogbia

Linked With:Liverpool

Fantasy Potential:
A Bonus Point darling, N’Zogbia has picked up 19 so far this season, despite Wigan continuing to struggle. The winger’s pace and trickery continually catches the eye and is fundamental in his ability to impress the judges. A move to Anfield would give Kenny Dalglish’s side a proven Premier League talent on the left flank and will surely only further-increase the Fantasy potential of the Frenchman, in terms of both goals and assists. Given his displays, it’s surprising N’Zogbia has dropped in value since the start of the season, and he now sits at just £5.5m.