There’s still a nasty draught blowing in from the open transfer window but it’s less than 24 hours before it’s slammed shut and we can stock once again. In the meantime things are going a little crazy, so here’s a catch up on recent done deals, the probables and the possibles and what they mean to us fantasy managers…

The Done Deals…

Given to Man City
City completed the move for Shay Given this evening for an undisclosed fee. Given will of course go straight into the City side and displace the unfortune Joe Hart. Newcastle’s Harper meanwhile, will be promoted to their number one.

Given’s arrival should boost City’s defensive resolve. He is a keeper well capable of winning matches for Mark Hughes and, together with the capture of Bridge, should certainly help to boost City’s potential for clean sheets.

Available in the mid-price bracket (4.8 in the FPL), Given has kept just one clean sheet in the last 9 games for Kinnear’s Newcastle but could fair better at City. However, they themselves have an identical record of 1 clean sheet in the last 9. Their short-term fixtures and the impetus gained from the signings of De Jong, Bridge and Bellamy, do at least offer potential for that to improve. Given starts with a double gameweek against Boro at home and Portsmouth away. Both of those immediately look like clean sheet contenders. After that things stiffen considerably (liv whm AVL che SUN ars) and I can only see a couple of potential shut-outs up until gameweek 31.

To my mind then, Given makes a good short-term option, his arrival will also boost the appeal of Bridge and Zabaleta, although from gameweek 26-31, things look fairly unprofitable for City’s defensive players, unless there is a radical transformation in form.

Nolan to Newcastle
Nolan has been a major fantasy football sleeper for many seasons, having previously scored 9 Premier league goals in 27 games back in 2004-05. Those days are a distant memory for Nolan however, who has since cultivated a deeper role in midfield. He played that familiar role for his new club against Sunderland today, although Kinnear did hint that he’d put the shackles on him…

“I restricted him a little bit – I bought him to come and score goals but because of the injury situation that we had, I wanted him and Butty just to sit and break up their attacks, get the ball wide and get the two full-backs pushing on as much as possible,” remarked Kinnear post-match.

“He still got himself forward, he’s a player who I think has scored 50 or 60 goals in his career and we haven’t got one of those players so he will obviously get a license to push forward and score goals.”

That would suggest that Nolan will be assigned the task of breaking forward to support the Newcastle attack – such as it is. He will need monitoring then and could be a low-to-mid price option (5.6 in the FPL) when Newcastle’s fixtures fall kindly.

Diouf to Blackburn Rovers
Allardyce has signed one of his old Bolton favourites here – a move which won’t have gone down particularly well with the Blackburn faithful. Diouf is a versatile attacking player who looks set to occupy the right flank for Rovers, ousting Emerton to the bench or perhaps to the right-back role. Apart from the impact on Emerton, there is little to see from Diouf in fantasy terms – classed as a forward in several games, his popularity is unlikely to increase as a result of his move to Ewood.

Barnes to Fulham
Fulham have signed a player of enormous potential in Barnes, although it’s unclear just how he will fit into Hodgson’s settled lineup.

It’s difficult to pin down Barnes’ best position, although he has often played out wide or in a slightly deeper role just behind a lone striker. It’s in a wide role that Fulham are likley to employ him – possibly at the expense of Dempsey or even Simon Davies. Barnes has yet to arrive in many fantasy games, including the FPL. His classification and price will greatly influence his fantasy potential. If he’s classed as a cheap midfielder and there’s evidence that he’ll pin down a starting role – he will present a decent short-term option for Fulham’s second double fixture gameweek, when they face home games with Hull and Blackburn.

Probables….

Ben Haim to Sunderland
A budget fantasy purchase whilst at City, he’ll fit right in alongside the likes of Ferdinand and Nosworthy in the same price bracket at the Stadium of Light. Presumably, Nosworthy will now either make way or shift to right-back – unless Ben Haim has been signed as cover. In which case the perennial benchwarmer is in for further disappointment as he slowly makes the descent down the Premier League hierarchy from Chelsea > City > Sunderland.

Taylor To Newcastle
This one is almost signed and sealed, with Taylor seen in a Newcastle tracksuit earlier today. Sadly, the move presents bad news for fantasy managers, with Taylor’s potential set to drop on his arrival at St James’ Park.

Whilst Taylor occupied a left midfield role at Wigan, he has little chance of holding down a similar role at Newcastle with Damian Duff at the club. In fact,even with Newcastle’s injuries, it’s difficult to see Taylor being used as anything but a utility man on constant rotation across of variety of midfield and full-back positions. A shame for everyone involved.

N’Zogbia to City
Taylor’s transfer from the JJB depends on the passage of N’Zogbia the other way. Wigan are said to have agreed a fee of £6 million and we should have confirmation of both moves very soon. Unlike Taylor, N’Zogbia’s fantasy potential could increase here. Classed as a defender in some games, including the FPL, N’Zogbia is unlikely to be employed in a left-back role and should be handed a start on the left wing by Steve Bruce. At just 5.1 and with clean sheets more likely at Wigan, N’Zogbia suddenly looks a decent proposition when Wigan’s fixtures fall kindly.

Possibles…

McBride to Fulham
Fulham are apparently in talks to bring the veteran American striker back to the Cottage. This would be the final nail for Zamora’s starting role alongside Johnson and McBride could be a consideration for Fulham’s double fixtures in gameweek 28 – that’s if his legs can stand up to two games in a week these days.

Jo To Everton
The Brazilian is apparently on his way to Everton for a season-long loan. Jo has been a major disappointment at City and is priced in the middle bracket in most fantasy games. We’d need to see some form before there was any talk of investment. His arrival however, would shift Cahill back to a midfield role and, together with Fellaini, give Everton a massive aerial presence in the side. More assist potential for Arteta perhaps?