In truth, the 2015/16 winter transfer window was a bit of a damp squib, with City’s revelation that Pep Guardiola will take charge from this summer overshadowing any player arrivals. As always, we’ll be covering the main deals in separate Scout Reports, but for now, here’s a quick assessment of the main movers over the last few days.
Oumar Niasse to Everton
The 25-year-old arrives at Goodison in the midst of a superb season for Lokomotiv Moscow. Niasse has racked up 13 goals and 10 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions for the Russian outfit, with his pace and work ethic instrumental to his success. Versatile enough to play up front and on the flank, he has been a long-term target of Roberto Martinez and, once up to scratch, looks likely to be a key first-team player. In terms of Fantasy potential, his classification as a forward (costing 7.0) in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) will all but kill our interest, given that the Toffees boss plays 4-2-3-1 with Romelu Lukaku as the lone striker. Niasse – who was not registered in time for tomorrow’s home encounter with Newcastle – hasn’t played competitively since December 10, though, suggesting he may be eased into contention with a handful of sub appearances.
Seydou Doumbia to Newcastle
After thriving at CSKA Moscow, the Ivory Coast striker’s career has stalled since a move to Roma in January 2015. Doumbia has spent the first half of this season on loan at his former club and now arrives on Tyneside in a temporary deal until the end of 2015/16, with the Magpies having the option of making the deal permanent. Certainly, Doumbia has the experience and scoring record to prove a success – he totalled 95 goals and 42 assists in 150 appearances for CSKA, while his 25 goals and three assists in all European competitions show his capabilities at a higher level. Priced at 6.5 in FPL, he looks a valid option in the mid-price bracket and with Aleksandar Mitrovic misfiring, he seems set to emerge as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 as Steve McClaren’s new-look side attempt to climb the table.
Alberto Paloschi to Swansea
The Italian frontman reunites with the Swans’ new boss Francesco Guidolin, having played under the veteran for Parma between 2008 and 2010. A product of the Milan youth system, Paloschi has a decent track record in Serie A, as evidenced by his 30 goals and seven assists in 92 appearances for Chievo. Priced at a reasonable 6.0, it remains to be seen just how quickly he’ll settle into his new surrounds but we can expect the 26-year-old to be a regular under his compatriot – either up front alongside Andre Ayew in a midfield diamond system or leading the line in a 4-2-3-1. If he can take penalty duties off Gylfi Sigurdsson, Paloschi’s appeal would certainly be on the rise, with his arrival set to ensure Bafetimbi Gomis remains a back-up option from the bench.
Leroy Fer to Swansea
The Dutchman arrives at the Liberty with a somewhat unwanted record, having tasted relegation with Norwich and QPR in the previous two seasons. Fer offers the Swans a real physical presence in the centre of the park and his six goals and four assists for the R’s last season suggest he could prove a decent acquisition. Ultimately, though, Andre Ayew will remain the number one Swansea Fantasy target in the centre of the park if he continues up front in Francesco Guidolin’s midfield diamond system. The 5.0-priced Fer – who profited from a more advanced support berth last year – could push Gylfi Sigurdsson for the central support role behind the front two, though is perhaps more likely to earn minutes from a deep-lying role instead.
Giannelli Imbula to Stoke
The biggest deal of the transfer window saw Mark Hughes fork out a club record £18.3m for the 23-year-old defensive midfielder. This is the second big move of Imbula’s career in the last 12 months after he switched from Marseille to Porto last summer for around 20m Euros. Imbula – who was not registered in time to face United tonight – will be stationed in the double-pivot in Hughes’ 4-2-3-1 set-up, bringing a ball-winning ability in the centre of the park that will see either Geoff Cameron or Glenn Whelan slip down the pecking order. The Potters boss could also roll out a 4-3-3, though, keeping Ibrahim Afellay in the centre of the park. Ultimately, five goals and six assists in his last three league seasons is indicative of the Frenchman’s limited Fantasy appeal – despite a price of 5.0, it’ll be Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri who will remain the midfielders most likely for the Britannia outfit. The knock-on effect of Imbula’s arrival should add extra resolve to the Potters, strengthening protection in front of the back-four – given that Hughes’ side have just two clean sheets in seven, this could be a crucial factor for Jack Butland’s prospects between the posts.
Alex Pritchard to West Brom
A peripheral figure under Mauricio Pochettino, the young midfielder thrived during a season-long loan stint at Brentford last year and will hope to make a similar impact at the Hawthorns. With a security of starts, Pritchard racked up 12 goals and seven assists in 43 league appearances, earning himself a place in the 2014/15 Championship PFA Team of the Year. Priced at 4.8 in FPL, he’s able to play on the wing or in a central support berth, though it’s fair to say that the jury is perhaps out on his prospects, given how little pitch time the likes of Arsenal’s Serge Gnabry earned on loan under Tony Pulis. Nonetheless, the new boy’s dead-ball abilities could boost his prospects. Pritchard bagged six goals from direct free-kicks during spells at Swindon and Brentford and given Pulis’ penchant for set-piece situations, the youngster’s delivery could prove a key weapon.
Wahbi Khazri to Sunderland
Snapped up for £9m from French outfit Bordeaux, the Tunisian international’s arrival could prove decisive in Big Sam’s battle to beat the drop. Khazri has served up 14 goals and as many assists in 52 league appearances over the last season-and-a-half and, having provided a key pass every 29.4 minutes, has been described as Sunderland’s answer to Mesut Ozil by one French football expert. The pacey midfielder is versatile enough to play in any of the attacking midfield positions in a likely 4-2-3-1 set-up, though is favourite to be handed the central support berth behind Jermain Defoe. Priced at just 6.0 in FPL, Khazri is expected to be handed most set-pieces and could even be unleashed from the start in this evening’s home encounter with City.
Lamine Kone to Sunderland
After a number of attempts over the transfer window, Allardyce finally acquired the defender from French club Lorient in a deal believed to be around £5m. Kone is versatile enough to fill in at full-back but, given his pursuit of the player, Big Sam is likely to hand the new boy a role at centre-half alongside John O’Shea, with Wes Brown dropping down to the bench and Jan Kirchhoff providing back-up. Without a clean sheet in nine, though, the Sunderland defence has been anything but resilient and the 4.3-priced Kone’s record – five goals and two assists in the last four seasons – won’t turn many heads at a time where Patrick van Aanholt has netted in each of the last four Gameweeks.
Rhoys Wiggins to Bournemouth
The left-back makes the move to Dean Court for the fourth time, after two loan spells and a permanent move between July 2010 and July 2011. Wiggins will be familiar to Eddie Howe, then, but with spot-kick taker Charlie Daniels in the form of his career and Tyrone Mings still sidelined through injury, it seems likely that the new boy – priced at 4.0 in FPL – will be no more than back-up. Wiggins managed just nine appearances for former club Sheffield Wednesday this season, with the rumoured £200,000 outlay perhaps adding weight to the idea that he’ll be no more than a squad player.
