After what was a fairly quiet January of transfer activity, the winter window closes on Monday evening.
We’re expecting a late flurry of ins and outs, however, with several clubs anticipated to be active on deadline day.
These late developments in the market could potentially affect Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers’ plans going into Gameweek 25 and beyond.
With that in mind, this live blog will be rounding up the confirmed deals that could present Fantasy bosses with new targets – or have a negative impact on existing assets.
The biggest arrivals will also get their own Scout Reports, which are more in-depth articles.
TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY – AS IT HAPPENS
01:00 – AXEL DISASI (CHELSEA TO ASTON VILLA, LOAN)
A new cut-price route into the Villa backline?
After spurning Spurs’ advances, Axel Disasi (£4.2m) has moved to Aston Villa on loan for the rest of 2024/25.
Centre-half was definitely an area the Villans needed to strengthen. The right-sided Disasi, on the surface of it, appears to be a replacement for the now-sold Diego Carlos. As such, he’s competition/back-up for Ezri Konsa (£4.4m).
It wouldn’t be a surprise if both players are starting in Gameweek 25, however, with Konsa moving over to right-back in the injured Matty Cash‘s (£4.4m) absence.
Surplus to requirements under Enzo Maresca, Disasi made 29 starts -and scored twice – for the Blues in 2023/24. He’ll be hoping to add a few more goals to his career tally under the set-piece whizzes.
00:25 – MARSHALL MUNETSI (REIMS TO WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS, £16M)
Not the Zimbabwean Slim Shady but a 28-year-old midfielder who has signed from French side Reims.
Marshall Munetsi (£5.0m) bolsters Vitor Pereira’s choices in the engine room, days after the Wolves boss bemoaned his lack of natural options in a midfield two.
A new Wolves central midfielder isn’t something that is going to set FPL managers’ pulses racing.
Munetsi does come equipped with quite a decent goal contribution record, however: 21 goals and 14 assists in 148 Ligue I run-outs.
00:15 – CARLOS ALCARAZ (FLAMENGO TO EVERTON, LOAN)
It’s actually only five months since Carlos Alcaraz (£4.9m) last saw Premier League action. Appearing as a late Southampton substitute in Gameweek 1, he then departed for Flamengo for a club-record fee.
Alcaraz has never really established himself as a regular wherever he’s been. Not at Southampton in the Championship, not at Juventus on loan and not even at Flamengo.
“I’m sad, I feel like it’s my failure, his failure for not working out in my hands. Given the investment made, that was my concern, a big investment and I’m not getting the best out of him.
“He decided to leave. I believe he can be happy. I sent him a message and he replied. I love Alcaraz. Why did he get minutes? Because he doesn’t give up, he wants to learn, he tries, he fights, he makes an effort.
“He runs, runs, runs. I insisted until the end. Not everyone will succeed. I hope he’s happy, I love this kid.” – Flamengo boss Filipe Luis, as quoted in the Liverpool Echo
Maybe Everton can be a good fit for the 22-year-old midfielder. David Moyes will love the sound of “he runs, runs, runs”.
Alcaraz’s most eye-catching stint came at Southampton in the Premier League at the back-end of 2022/23. He delivered four goals and two assists in just 13 starts, pretty decent for a £5.0m midfielder. Some of those appearances interestingly came as a centre-forward, so there’s an outside chance we could see him used as relief up top.
Mostly, though, he’s been deployed in central midfield. Competition for Abdoulaye Doucoure (£5.1m) as the most advanced midfielder is one possibility. Alcaraz or Doucoure could even be used deeper if needed, with loanee Orel Mangala (£5.0m) out of the season.
00:00 – NASSER DJIGA (RED STAR BELGRADE TO WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS, £10M)
Having recruited Emmanuel Agbadou (£4.5m) early last month, Wolves have signed another centre-back at the last possible opportunity.
Nasser Djiga (£4.5m) has been snapped up from Red Star Belgrade for a reported £10m.
The 22-year-old Burkina Faso international looks like he’ll slot in as the right-sided centre-back, so perhaps no more Matt Doherty (£4.3m) in the Wolves back three.
“Central defence is an area we’ve been looking to strengthen this window and Nasser is a player we believe can strengthen the squad, both in the short and longer term.
“Since Vitor came in that back three has been consistent, but Nasser’s the quick, aggressive centre-back we’ve been looking for to help the group and we’re looking forward to seeing him fight for his place.” – Matt Hobbs, Wolves sporting director
23:15 – BEN CHILWELL (CHELSEA TO CRYSTAL PALACE, LOAN)
Competition for Tyrick Mitchell (£4.8m) or another option at centre-half?
It remains to be seen but the Palace website made a point of highlighting Ben Chilwell’s (£4.6m) versatility high up the transfer announcement.
“The 28-year-old, who can operate in a number of positions on the left side of the pitch, joins the Eagles until the end of the season.” – Crystal Palace website
Chilwell actually has very little experience at centre-back but it’s feasible that Oliver Glasner might try and reinvent him as a centre-half in a back three.
Could we even see Chilwell operate on the left wing? Mauricio Pochettino was keen on playing Chilwell further forward in his time at Stamford Bridge. We’d probably have to see an injury to Eberechi Eze (£6.7m) for that to be considered, however.
Of course, it’s at wing-back where we’re used to seeing Chilwell. A lack of end product has long been a criticism of the defensively sound Mitchell, something that his new teammate has proven more adept at delivering. Think back to 2020/21, when he registered three goals and six assists in just 27 starts.
Fitness is the main caveat with Chilwell. First, how match-fit is he after a sum total of 45 minutes – against Barrow – all season? Second, how long can we trust him to remain injury-free? It’ll be an interesting watch.
23:10 – MATHYS TEL (BAYERN MUNICH TO TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, LOAN)
Yet another player who looked like he was signing for another club.
Mathys Tel (£6.0m) joins a club he rejected last week. In between, it seemed like the young attacker might be heading to Manchester United – only for that mooted deal to fall apart too.
The France under-21 international joins Spurs on loan until the end of 2024/25. The Lilywhites then have an ‘option’ to make the move permanent in the summer.
Tel is, incredibly given that he’s been on the scene for a while, still only 19. Having made his debut for Rennes at the age of 16, the starlet was soon snapped up by Bayern Munich. In his two-and-a-half years with the German giants, he’s mostly been a bit-part player. One league start in 2022/23, six in 2023/24 and two in 2024/25 to date.
A dozen attacking returns in little more than 1,000 minutes of pitch-time last season does hint at his potential if he can sustain a run in Ange Postecoglou’s side.
In what is becoming a recurring theme today, Spurs describe him as a “versatile attacker”. Starting off mostly playing through the middle for Bayern, we have seen him more in wide areas over the last 18 months. So, not just cover for Dominic Solanke (£7.4m) while he’s out injured but perhaps also competition for Brennan Johnson (£6.2m) and Dejan Kulusevski (£6.4m) on the right and Son Heung-min (£9.8m) on the opposite flank. Kulusevski has played much of his best football this season in a deeper midfield role, of course.
23:00 – NICO GONZALEZ (PORTO TO MANCHESTER CITY, £50M)
Manchester City have made a much-needed signing to bolster the ranks in midfield.
The reigning champions have struggled since Rodri (£6.2m) sustained a serious knee injury back in September.
The Cityzens have looked particularly vulnerable in the engine room, with Ilkay Gundogan (£6.4m), Bernardo Silva (£6.2m) and Mateo Kovacic (£5.4m) offering little in the way of resistance and protection to the backline.
What kind of midfielder is Nico Gonzalez (£6.0m), then?
“Gonzalez is a classic central midfielder; someone capable of driving the team forward with a turn of pace or equally breaking up opposition attacks thanks to an impressive ability to read the play and eat up the ground.”
Not our words, Carol, but the words of the completely unbiased Manchester City website.
The less partisan Athletic writer, Thom Harris, describes him as a “more dynamic box-to-box midfielder”.
Certainly, five goals and four assists in 17 league starts for Porto this season doesn’t suggest he’s a player who is primed to sit in front of the back four.
Then again, Rodri was permitted more attacking license in the title-winning 2023/24 campaign, contributing six goals and 10 assists.
Rodriguez might not be the answer to all City’s defensive prayers, then, but a 6’2″ tireless marauder in the middle of the park might alleviate some of the Rodri-less issues.
22:50 – Eli Junior Kroupi (FC LORIENT TO BOURNEMOUTH, £12M – LOANED BACK)
Bournemouth have indeed signed a striker in the transfer window – but Dango Ouattara (£5.0m) owners can breathe a big sigh of relief as new recruit Eli Junior Kroupi won’t feature for the Cherries this season.
The south-coast club have splashed out around £12m on the teenage forward. However, he will remain with current employees Lorient for the rest of 2024/25.
Junior has chipped in with nine goals and two assists in 17 Ligue II this season.
21:15 – ALEX PALMER (WEST BROMWICH ALBION TO IPSWICH TOWN, £2M)
As one Palmer endeavours to score a goal in the Monday night match, a namesake may be attempting to stop them flying in come Gameweek 25 (tenuous).
Ipswich have captured West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer (£4.5m) for an undisclosed fee, thought to be £2m + add-ons.
The 28-year-old was the joint winner of the 2023/24 Championship Golden Glove after keeping 18 clean sheets for the Baggies.
He had registered 11 shut-outs in 30 second-tier appearances this season.
Palmer leaves Albion after nearly three-and-a-half years.
With Christian Walton (£4.3m) out for a “number of weeks” with a groin injury and Ari Muric (£4.4m) having a torrid season, there’s a chance Palmer is fast-tracked straight into the starting XI.
Fbref has Palmer as the fifth-best Championship ‘keeper for save percentage (74.3%) this season. He also has an xG prevented total of +3.1. Muric and Walton are some way down the Premier League list for both stats.
19:00 – MARCO ASENSIO (PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN TO ASTON VILLA, LOAN)
Another marquee signing for Aston Villa following the capture of Marcus Rashford (see below).
Marco Asensio (£6.0m) has moved to the Villans on loan for the rest of the season.
The 29-year-old Spain international has joined Unai Emery’s troops after a fairly unremarkable 18 months with Paris Saint-Germain.
“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football.
“I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.” – Marcos Asensio
A promising start with the French giants in 2023/24 was swiftly halted by a foot injury that kept him out for the best part of three months. He never really recovered from there.
Last season ended with just 13 Ligue I starts and six sub appearances. He did manage four goals and five starts in that time, at least.
The struggle for minutes intensified in the current campaign. He’s made just eight league starts, barely getting a kick at all since the end of November. It almost sounds a bit Rashford-esque…
Asensio is a man with real pedigree, though. A three-time Champions League winner, he spent nine years with Real Madrid – punctuated by loan spells with Espanyol and Mallorca – before his move to France.
Even then, a sizeable 37.7% of his appearances for Los Blancos came off the bench.
As an example of what he can do on the pitch, he managed nine goals and six assists from 15 starts and 16 sub appearances in his final year at Real. A goal every 159 minutes would be near the top of the midfielders’ table if he were to recreate that at Villa.
Now the big question: position. You’ll see ‘versatile’ used a lot in conjunction with Asensio’s name: he has played in every attacking midfield position, even as a striker, in his illustrious career. Much of his later time at Real came on the right, so competition for Leon Bailey (£6.2m) is one possibility. He could perhaps alleviate some of the burden on Morgan Rogers (£5.6m), too, although Emery has started Rogers in every league match he’s been available for this season.
14:00 – EVAN FERGUSON (BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION TO WEST HAM UNITED, LOAN)
Evan Ferguson‘s (£5.5m) much-anticipated loan move to West Ham is now a-go.
Ferguson reunites with ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter, who handed the 20-year-old Irish striker his Premier League debut in February 2022.
Since then, the highly rated forward’s career has been a bit stop-start. Injuries haven’t helped, nor has the change in manager; Fabian Hurzeler seems quite lukewarm on him.
Ferguson, indeed, started just two league matches this season, subbing in on a further 11 occasions. His strike in Gameweek 9 is his only goal of 2024/25 so far.
Even before Hurzeler’s arrival, Ferguson never graduated from hot young thing to regular starter. There were 10 starts and nine substitute appearances in 2022/23. Then, 15 starts and 12 run-outs off the bench in 2023/24. Both campaigns ended with six goals scored.
His expected minutes at West Ham may be helped by the lack of competition up top, with Niclas Fullkrug (£6.7m) and Michail Antonio (£5.3m) both sidelined for some time. However, it’s possible that Potter may want to use Jarrod Bowen (£7.3m) in a central role now that he’s fit again. The Hammers already have Carlos Soler (£5.0m), Lucas Paqueta (£5.7m), Mohammed Kudus (£6.2m) and Crysencio Summerville (£5.5m) competing for attacking midfield roles.
One to monitor, then, as a possible starting £5.5m forward is always welcome on the FPL front.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Evan in on loan until the end of the season. He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the Board for bringing him in.
“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.
“We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come.” – Graham Potter
10:05 – STEFANOS TZIMAS (NUREMBERG TO BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION, £20m – LOANED BACK)
Brighton have signed a new striker – but don’t fret, Joao Pedro (£5.5m) and Danny Welbeck (£5.5m) owners, he’s not going to cut into their game-time in 2024/25.
The Seagulls have captured teenage forward Stefanos Tzimas from Nuremberg but he will remain at the Bundesliga 2 side for the rest of the season.
In slightly confusing developments, Tzimas had only been on loan at the German club until they exercised the option to buy him from PAOK Salonika and then almost immediately sold him to Albion.
The 19-year-old Greek striker has scored 10 goals in 17 league appearances for Nuremberg so far. Just 13 of those were starts, so he’s been rattling along at a decent minutes-per-goal rate – albeit in the German second tier.
Nevertheless, given Brighton’s past success in unearthing hidden gems, he’ll be one to watch in pre-season.
“Stefanos is an exceptional young talent, an out-and-out centre-forward with a natural ability to score goals, and we are absolutely delighted to have signed him.
“He will join up with us in the summer, ahead of next season, but we are really looking forward to working with him, and feel he has a very exciting future ahead.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Stefanos Tzimas
ROUND-UP OF THE WEEKEND TRANSFERS
There were a few notable transfers over the weekend.
MARCUS RASHFORD (MANCHESTER UNITED TO ASTON VILLA, LOAN)
Marcus Rashford‘s (£6.6m) loan move from Manchester United to Aston Villa was the real headline-grabber.
An outcast at United under Ruben Amorim, he’ll get the chance to revive his flagging career in the West Midlands.
Are his best days behind him? We thought that might have been the case heading into 2022/23, only for him to respond with a 17-goal, 205-point season in FPL.
Last season was a bit of a disaster, with Rashford barely scraping double figures for attacking returns as the Erik ten Hag era turned sour.
His fortunes looked to be on the up under Amorim, with three goals in the new United manager’s first two league matches in charge.
But a two-goal showing against Everton in early December turned out to be his final league start for the Red Devils. He hasn’t kicked a ball in the Premier League since Gameweek 15.
“I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player.” – Marcus Rashford on his move to Aston Villa
While he’ll provide competition for Jacob Ramsey (£5.4m) down the Villa left, he’s also potentially relief for Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) – who picked up an injury on Saturday – up top. Villa, who could ‘double’ in Gameweek 25, are already short of centre-forward options since Jhon Duran departed for Saudi Arabia.
A full Moving Target article will follow on Rashford in the coming days.
PATRICK DORGU (LECCE TO MANCHESTER UNITED, £25M)
United have got one new body in through the door in the shape of Patrick Dorgu (£4.5m).
The versatile defender arrives from Lecce for a reported £25m and has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal.
He’s played all over for the Italian club – full-back, wing-back, winger – and indeed on both sides of the pitch.
It is thought, however, that wing-back will be his position in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1, most likely on the left. It’ll bring competition to Diogo Dalot (£5.0m), Noussair Mazroaui (£4.3m) and even Amad Diallo (£5.6m), who has sporadically featured at wing-back of late. Diallo, of course, is more at home further forward, while we may see Mazroaui more at centre-back now that Lisandro Martinez (£4.4m) could be out for the season. Dalot can shift over to right wing-back, too.
Dorgu’s attacking numbers are quite eye-catching for a side in the lower reaches of Serie A. The Denmark international has scored three goals in 21 starts, registering 36 shots in the process. No FPL defender has registered as many attempts in 2024/25.
However, here’s the big caveat: almost half of Dorgu’s starts, and all three of his goals, came from a right-wing position. He’s probably unlikely to be starting there for United.
Still, his ball-carrying abilities and eye for goal will be something to monitor over the coming weeks.
“Patrick is a really exciting talent; his strong defensive and attacking attributes, adaptability and work-rate will make him a key part of Ruben Amorim’s squad.” – Jason Wilcox, Manchester United’s technical director, on Patrick Dorgu
United have also signed Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven (£4.0m). The teenage centre-back has yet to make a Premier League appearance.
KEVIN DANSO (LENS TO TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, LOAN)
Swiped from under the noses of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kevin Danso (£4.5m) has joined the north Londoners initially on loan. Spurs have an obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer.
A centre-back who typically operates from the right-hand side, he’ll provide cover/competition for Cristian Romero (£4.9m), whose recovery from a hamstring injury is dragging on for longer than expected. Archie Gray (£4.6m) has had to play at centre-half recently.
If you think Danso’s name is familiar, he had an unremarkable loan spell with Southampton in 2019/20. Making only three starts in the whole of the campaign, he was involved in the infamous 0-9 reverse against Leicester City.
He’s strengthened his reputation since then, becoming a regular with first Fortuna Dusseldorf and then Lens.
Danso hasn’t really turned his towering presence at set plays into goals: just one goal in each of the last two seasons and none in 2024/25.
EIRAN CASHIN (DERBY COUNTY TO BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION, £9m)
After a couple of years of being linked with the 22-year-old centre-half, Brighton have their man.
Eiran Cashin (£4.5m) has signed for a reported £9m from Derby County, where he has spent the entirety of his fledgling career.
Progressing through the Rams’ academy, Cashin has bobbed between League One and the Championship over the last four seasons.
Having scooped several awards (League One Team of the Year, Derby’s Young Player of the Year etc), he departs Paul Warne’s side having made 126 appearances. He scored six goals in that time.
It sounds like he’ll be back-up to Lewis Dunk (£4.2m) at first.
“He’s gained a lot of experience in the Championship, has a good profile and as a left-sided defender he will give us another strong defensive option.
“We’re looking forward to working with Eiran and watching him develop with us.” – Fabian Hurzeler on Eiran Cashin
