Transfer Window Watch

It was a deadline day of contrasting fortunes for many of the Premier League’s clubs. Whilst Man United splashed the cash on the most expensive teenager in world football and West Ham added four players to their ranks, Arsenal become the only club in Europe’s top five leagues not to sign a single outfield player over the window. Saido Berahino, meanwhile, has suggested that he’ll never to play for West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace again after his mooted move to Tottenham failed to transpire.

We’ll cover the major moves in dedicated articles over the next week or so but, for now, here’s an assessment of the most significant deals for Fantasy managers.

Joleon Lescott to Aston Villa
Joleon Lescott crossed the West Midlands’ divide on deadline day, teaming up with the Villains on a two-year deal. His arrival at Villa Park threatens to displace Ciaran Clark from the starting line-up, with Micah Richards and Lescott potentially set to rekindle a central defensive partnership that harks back to their Manchester City days. From a Fantasy perspective, his 4.9 price tag makes him less enticing than Richards (4.6) and the attack-minded Jordan Amavi (5.0) for a route into Villa’s backline, though there’s hope that his arrival could boost the resilience of a defence with just one clean sheet to their name so far. Back at the Hawthorns, Lescott’s departure clears the decks and helps to cement Jonny Evans’ (4.8) claims for a starting role. His departure could, however, result in Chris Brunt being drafted into the left-back role on a more permanent basis.

Glenn Murray and Joe Bennett to Bournemouth
Having fallen down the pecking order at Crystal Palace after the recruitment of Conor Wickham, Glenn Murray should be afforded more minutes at the south-coast club. Callum Wilson – who sits joint-top of the Premier League scoring charts with four goals – certainly still looks a nailed-on starter, with his pace and movement key to his side’s attacks. Given that Cherries boss Eddie Howe favours a 4-4-1-1, there’s scope for the new boy to slot in behind his youthful counterpart in a central support role. That being said, Murray’s 5.8 price point is unlikely to attract many investors in the coming weeks when the in-form Wilson (5.7) is still the more affordable pick-up. With concerns over Max Gradel’s knee problem, Howe could shift the more versatile Joshau King from the role in “the hole” and onto the left if he’s looking to immediately install Murray into his starting XI.

Bennett’s arrival may mainly be down to injuries at left-back. Both Charlie Daniels and deputy Tyrone Mings were forced off at the weekend, with the club yet to confirm the extent of their injuries. Certainly, if Howe has a fully-fit squad then Bennett looks no more than back-up but if Daniels and Mings are sidelined, he could emerge as a rare 4.0-priced starter ahead of some kind fixtures.

Papy Djilobodji to Chelsea
Frustrated in their well-publicised courting of Everton’s John Stones, Chelsea have seemingly signed a stop-gap in Nantes centre-back Papy Djilobodji. Standing at six foot four inches, Djilobodji (5.0) started out as a midfield enforcer but has since been converted into a powerful central defender. Although unlikely to be afforded many starts, his pace affords Jose Mourinho with another option against the league’s more athletically gifted forwards – those that John Terry is struggling to contain in his 18^th Premier League campaign.

Ramiro Funes Mori and Aaron Lennon to Everton
The Toffees have bolstered their rearguard depth with the capture of River Plate defender Ramiro Funes Mori in a reported £9.5 million deal. The once-capped Argentina international is a centre-back by trade but has filled in at left-back on occasion. Recruited to plug the experience-void left upon the decampment of Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz, Funes Mori will clearly play second fiddle to John Stones and Phil Jagielka in central defence but could be afforded a run at left-back in light of Leighton Baines’ injury absence. Adept from free-kicks and a dominating presence from set pieces, the 24-year-old carded six goals in 50 outings in all competitions last season, highlighting his Fantasy potential.

Lennon returns to Goodison on a permanent deal after spending the last few months of last season on loan under Roberto Martinez. Lennon (5.8) managed to earn a regular role on the Toffees right in 2014/15 but with Arouna Kone looking reborn and Gerard Deulofeu added to what was already a wealth of options, it remains to be seen whether the former Spurs man can claw his way back into Fantasy consideration.

Nathan Dyer to Leicester City
Not content with serving as the back-up to Andre Ayew at Swansea, Nathan Dyer sealed a season-long loan move to the Foxes. Having clocked just 18 minutes for the Swans at the start of this campaign, the winger will certainly not be assured a starting berth at the King Power Stadium either, given that Riyad Mahrez – who’s expected to be fit for Gameweek 5 – occupies his favoured slot on the right flank. Marc Albrighton’s 8.5% ownership will doubtless be watching keenly to see if Claudio Ranieri experiments with Dyer (4.8) on the left wing, though given their form so far, it’s fair to say the new boy faces a tough task to break into the Foxes starting XI.

Anthony Martial to Man United
The versatile 19-year old arrives at Old Trafford with a hefty price tag amid comparisons with Thierry Henry. Martial offers United options on the flank or through the centre, which could ultimately see either Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney shifted into the central support role, depending on how Louis van Gaal plans to utilise his talents. Certainly, a role up top, with Rooney in “the hole” would be ideal but it’s worth noting that Van Gaal has been quick to suggest “we need to give him time”. Priced at 8.0 and classified as a forward, it remains to be seen whether the Dutchman will throw him into the starting XI from the off.

Dieumerci Mbokani and Matt Jarvis to Norwich
In Dieumerci Mbokani, the Canaries have snapped up a centre forward with real pedigree. Following a two-year spell at Belgian giants Anderlecht that harvested 34 goals in 53 outings, the DR Congo frontman made the switch to Dinamo Kiev, where he chalked up 13 goals and ten assists in his debut campaign. Norwich rank first for big chances (nine) and seventh for key passes (43), yet their leading marksman, Cameron Jerome, has failed to open his account, mustering just one shot on target. Priced at 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League, Mbokani will fancy his chances of usurping Jerome, then, and should he quickly settle, could be a potential budget option for our three-man frontlines.

Jarvis’ loan arrival from West Ham boosts the Canaries’ options after Bradley Johnson joined Derby earlier in the day. Alex Neil has mainly utilised Jonny Howson on the left and with Martin Olsson closing in on a comeback from injury, Neil could move Robbie Brady out of the left-back berth and onto the left. Having fallen down the Upton Park pecking order, Jarvis (4.9) may have to settle for bench-warming duties again.

Virgil van Dijk to Southampton
Following Victor Wanyama’s transfer in the summer of 2013, Saints have once again plundered Celtic with the signing of Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk in an £11.5 million deal. Considering the magnitude of the outlay, one would imagine that the former Groningen youth product has been pinpointed as the man to partner Jose Fonte at the heart of defence. A mainstay during his spell his two-term spell with the Hoops, Van Dijk amassed four goals and six assists in 35 league starts, underlining his considerable potential for attacking returns. His marauding runs into midfield and free-kick proficiency (he converted two in as many matches last April) certainly render the Saints’ latest recruit an exciting Fantasy prospect at the 5.5 mark. Van Dijk’s arrival is likely to spell the end of Maya Yoshida’s prospects as a 4.5 option in the Saints’ rearguard, unless Koeman maintains a three-man defence.

Fabio Borini and DeAndre Yedlin to Sunderland
Although primarily deployed as a left wing-forward during his previous spell with Sunderland, Borini looks likely to occupy the lone striker berth for Dick Advocaat’s side. The Dutch boss previously stated that Jermain Defoe can’t operate up front alone, yet he’ll be loath to drop the English marksman when he’s notched two goals in four outings. With Jeremain Lens flourishing on the right flank and Ola Toivonen impressing in a support role last weekend, Borini should be afforded the chance to stretch his legs as the spearhead of their attack in a 4-2-3-1, allowing Defoe to keep his place out wide. The pair could also be fielded up front together but Advocaat tends to favour a lone striker formation, with a 4-3-3 mainly the preferred choice until now. Available for just 5.4, Borini – who tallied seven goals and three assists (2142 minutes) during the 2013/14 season – harbours the ability to profit from a decent quartet of match-ups (bou, WHU, wba, NEW) over the next six Gameweeks. Spot-kicks could be vital to his appeal – should he take on those duties in the absence of the injured Jordi Gomez, then Borini’s prospects would be bolstered further.

Yedlin, meanwhile, offers an alternative to Billy Jones in the right-back berth. With Adam Matthews sidelined due to a shoulder problem, Advocaat could look to freshen things up at the back again as he attempts to solve his side’s defensive woes. Given that Sunderland have yet to register a clean sheet and have conceded more goals (ten) than any other side, Yedlin’s kind 4.4 price tag may not be enough to convince, even if he edges past Jones. There’s also the prospect that Yedlin’s pace could be used in a role on the flank – a situation worth monitoring.

Victor Ibarbo and Obbi Oulare to Watford
With Miguel Layen and Matej Vydra farmed out on loan, Quique Sanchez Flores has bolstered his options in the final third. The Hornets new forwards Ibarbo and Oulare both come in at 5.5 – the same price as skipper Troy Deeney, who looks nailed-on as the preferred lone striker in a 4-2-3-1. The versatile Ibarbo boasts a moderate record – 14 goals in 111 appearances for Cagliari before moving to Roma, where he fell out of favour – whilst the 19-year-old frontman Oulare has netted nine times in 39 outings for Club Brugge. A bench role seems the likeliest scenario for the youngster.

Anders Lindegaard to West Brom
With no window for a potential return yet offered for the injured Ben Foster, Lindegaard’s free transfer to the Baggies could prove bad news for the current stand-in, Boaz Myhill (4.5). Although the latter has chalked up two clean sheets in the last three, there’s a feeling that Lindegaard (also 4.5) hasn’t arrived at the Hawthorns to sit on the bench yet again. With some decent matches to follow (SOT, avl, EVE, cpl, SUN, nor, LEI) the Baggies defence could again prove a reliable source of defensive returns, though it remains to be seen whether Lindegaard can oust both Myhill and Foster once the treatment room is empty. Having promoted him in our recent Watchlist rankings update, we certainly believe that will be the case.

Nikica Jelavic, Victor Moses, Alex Song and Michail Antonio to West Ham
The Hammers four new signings afford Slaven Bilic plenty of options in terms of formations, with the arrival of Moses and Antonio particularly boosting the competition out wide.

Bilic had utilised a midfield diamond before turning to a 4-1-4-1 in the previous Gameweek, with Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini on the left and right respectively. Both Moses and Antonio could play on either flank, possibly allowing the Hammers to move to 4-2-3-1, with Payet tucked in behind a lone striker. Down to 5.3, Moses tallied three goals and four assists in just 1444 minutes at Stoke last term, though Antonio – at 6.0 – looks far more intriguing, having racked up 14 goals and 12 assists for Forest in 2014/15. Like Moses, he offers searing pace but couples it with considerable power and a threat from range that, at times, proved devastating at Championship level. Without question, Antonio to watch as yet another mid-price midfield option.

Song is currently injured but, when available, adds to the competition in the centre of the park along with Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang, suggesting that young Reece Oxford’s prospects look limited. Whilst there’s no doubt he will bring a calming influence and intelligent distribution from deep midfield, Song’s returns (zero goals and three assists) for the Hammers last time out underlines his limited Fantasy potential. Again, this affords Bilic the option of fielding three central midfielders should he switch his tactical approach.

Jelavic has played under Bilic at international level, though if the Hammers look to play one up top, the Croatian will surely struggle to oust Diafra Sakho from the starting XI. A two-man frontline would certainly boost his prospects, given that Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia are still out through injury.

With four favourable fixtures in the next five (NEW, NOR, sun, cpl), Bilic will be look for some consistency after some erratic opening displays, though wins over Arsenal and Liverpool hint at the Hammers potential.