Transfers

How each Premier League club did in the summer transfer window

The Premier League summer spending came in at a hefty £1.4 billion, but how many of the 99 new permanent signings will cut the Fantasy mustard?

We’ve taken a look at each club’s transfer window to single out a few assets worth your Fantasy time.

Arsenal

INS

Nicolas Pépé (MID £9.5m) Winger signed for a club-record £72m from Lille. Scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 games of a highly impressive season.

Kieran Tierney (DEF £5.5m) Celtic’s Scottish international left-back cost the Gunners £25m, but is currently sidelined with a groin injury. Managed five assists from 20 league appearances last term.

David Luiz (DEF £6.0m) One of the deadline day’s more eye-opening deals, the Chelsea centre-half moved across London for £8m. Highly experienced, if not always the most dependable at the back.

Dani Ceballos (MID £5.5m) Spanish U21 midfielder signed on loan from Real Madrid. Used sparingly in La Liga last season, scoring three times.

OUTS

Alex Iwobi (MID £6.0m) – see Everton

Danny Welbeck (FWD £6.0m) – see Watford

VERDICT

A good transfer window for the Gunners and Pépé has the potential to form a devastating partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) up front. Defensive shortcomings remain, despite the fresh faces, with Luiz so much better on the ball than off it and Tierney a work in progress.

Aston Villa

INS

Tom Heaton (GK £4.5m) An £8m capture from Burnley, Heaton is a proven Premier League performer – he pulled off 142 saves in 2016/17 – hampered by injury in recent years.

Tyrone Mings (DEF £4.5m) On loan from Bournemouth for the second half of last season, the centre-half’s permanent move to Villa could cost up to £25m.

Matt Targett (DEF £4.5m) Left-back signed from Southampton for £11m. Limited to only 16 appearances for the Saints last season, he still managed a goal and three assists.

Kortney Hause (DEF £4.5m) Another loan to permanent deal (from Wolves), Hause made only 14 appearances last term, but did feature in Villa’s play-offs run.

Bjorn Engels (DEF £4.5m) A £9m capture from Reims, the Belgian centre-half has Champions League experience with Olympiacos and was a regular in Ligue 1 last season, scoring one goal and setting up another across 33 appearances.

Ezri Konsa (DEF £4.5m) The England U21 defender, who cost Villa £12m to prise him away from Brentford, is very much in the ‘one for the future’ bracket.

Anwar El Ghazi (MID £5.5m) Six goals in 36 appearances, including the opener in the play-off final against Derby, capped a successful loan spell from Lille last season. He also chipped in with six assists from the flanks.

Jota (MID £6.0m) The West Midlands’ other Jota is Spanish and a former Birmingham City winger who worked under Villa boss Dean Smith at Brentford. Jota scored three goals and set up a further nine in 40 Championship appearances last term.

Douglas Luiz (MID £4.5m) A £15m buy from Manchester City, where he never made a first-team appearance, the defensively-minded Brazilian offers limited attacking threat.

Trezeguet (MID £5.5m) Another pacey winger for Dean Smith’s stable, the Egypt international impressed for Turkish outfit Kasimpasa last term, with nine goals and ten assists.

Marvelous Nakamba (MID £4.5m) An £11m capture from Club Brugges. As owners of Isaac Success (£5.0m) will confirm, a great name will only get you so far. And as a defensive midfielder with only four career goals to his name, that’s not very far at all in Fantasy terms.

Wesley (FWD £6.0m) The £22m signing from Club Brugge managed 17 goals and ten assists last term and should be Villa’s main man up front if he can adapt to the Premier League quickly enough.

VERDICT

Busy is an understatement when it comes to Villa’s summer dealings. Dean Smith has vowed that his side won’t ‘do a Fulham’ after buying up an entire new XI, and a number of the fresh men do at least have experience either in England or at Villa. Key Fantasy assets are likely to be El Ghazi, Wesley – should he find the Premier League to his liking – and the save point magnet that is Heaton.

AFC Bournemouth

INS

Jack Stacey (DEF £4.5m) A £4m signing from Luton, Stacey offers versatility in defence and an eye for goal – he hit four in 45 games for the Hatters last year.

Lloyd Kelly (DEF £4.5m) Another young player who can operate across the back four, the left-back cost the Cherries £13m from Bristol City. He is, however, currently out with an ankle injury

Philip Billing (MID £5.0m) £15m has got Eddie Howe an athletic central midfielder, but his muted attacking output while at Huddersfield (two goals and no assists across two seasons) confirms his limited Fantasy potential.

Arnaut Danjuma (MID £6.0m) The winger cost Bournemouth £13.7m from Club Brugge, with the Dutch international providing six goals and four assists in all competitions last season.

Harry Wilson (MID £6.0m) A loan signing from Liverpool, the 22-year-old winger will do well to hold down a regular first-team place, with stiff competition coming from the likes of Ryan Fraser (£7.5m) and new boy Danjuma.

OUTS

Tyrone Mings (DEF £4.5m) – see Aston Villa.

Lys Mousset (FWD £5.0m) – see Sheffield United.

VERDICT

A fairly understated transfer window for Bournemouth, with new blood at the back perhaps offering more potential than immediate Fantasy gains.

Key assets are more likely to be found further up the pitch. Danjuma and Wilson look like good fits for Eddie Howe’s progressive philosophy – if they can secure sufficient pitch-time.

Brighton and Hove Albion

INS

Aaron Mooy (MID £5.0m) A season-long loan from Huddersfield looks like canny business done by new Brighton boss Graham Potter. In an otherwise workmanlike Terriers side, Mooy offered a spark of creativity – and seven goals and four assists across two top-flight campaigns.

Leandro Trossard (MID £6.0m) The £15m arrival from Genk caught the eye in pre-season as part of a fluid front three for the Seagulls. He had a stand-out 2018/19, scoring 22 goals and producing 11 assists in 47 appearances, but was on the bench in Gameweek 1.

Adam Webster (DEF £4.5m) A club-record £20m signing from Bristol City, Webster can play both centre-half and right-back – a key attribute given Potter’s liking for changes in both personnel and formation.

Neil Maupay (FWD £6.0m) Fantasy veteran Glenn Murray (£6.0m) might well have to settle for the bench this season if the £20m signing from Brentford hits the ground running. Maupay is a strong, mobile striker who has scored 41 goals over the last two Championship seasons and already has his first Premier League goal.

VERDICT

Brighton will be as much about their manager as their players this season. If Graham Potter’s attack-minded philosophy proves more fruitful than Chris Hughton’s defensive set-up, then the Seagulls could fly.

If so, Trossard and Maupay look like Fantasy bargains. But it remains, for now, a big if, as Watford were exceptionally poor in Gameweek 1.

Burnley

INS

Jay Rodriguez (FWD £6.0m) The £10m capture from West Brom has major Fantasy pedigree – 15 goals and three assists in a breakout 2013/14 season at Southampton. He showed flashes of that form for the Baggies two seasons ago, but will have to oust more dependable forward options if he is to flourish at Turf Moor.

Danny Drinkwater (MID £4.5m) A loan signing from Chelsea, Drinkwater has never been the greatest of Fantasy draws, with his finest hour (and three goals and eight assists) back in the heady days of Leicester’s title-winning season.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell (GK £4.5m) We can probably file this £2.5m signing from Leeds under the back-up category at Burnley.

OUTS

Tom Heaton (GK £4.5m) – see Aston Villa

VERDICT

The quietest of windows for Burnley, although Rodriguez could become a major asset if he stays injury-free and the Clarets can avoid a repeat of last year’s deeply underwhelming campaign.

Chelsea

INS

Mateo Kovacic (MID £5.5m) As befits a team currently dealing with a transfer ban, the £40m conversion of the Real Madrid midfielder’s loan to a permanent deal has been the only piece of paper in Frank Lampard’s in-tray. The deep-lying Croatia international, however, offers little in Fantasy terms.

OUTS

David Luiz (DEF £6.0m) – see Arsenal

Danny Drinkwater (MID £4.5m) – see Burnley

VERDICT

Move on, nothing to see here. The key questions surrounding Chelsea revolve around who of the existing squad will make the cut under Lampard.

Crystal Palace

INS

James McCarthy (MID £4.5m) McCarthy’s move from Everton to Palace is unlikely to excite much more than the fact that his name is so very similar to James McArthur’s (£5.5m).

Jordan Ayew (FWD £5.0m) A decent enough loan spell (a goal and three assists) from Swansea has led to a permanent move to Selhurst Park, although his Fantasy appeal remains decidedly dim.

Gary Cahill (DEF £4.5m) The veteran centre-half, released by Chelsea, joined Palace on a free transfer. The Eagles kept 12 clean sheets last season and Cahill could offer decent value if he gets the minutes.

Victor Camarasa (MID £5.0m) A canny loan signing from Real Betis, via Cardiff City. Camarasa added a rare touch of flair at Neil Warnock’s Cardiff, scoring five goals and setting up another four.

OUTS

Aaron Wan Bissaka (DEF £5.5m) – see Manchester United

VERDICT

Arguably the highlight of Palace’s transfer window was not those who came in, but the one who didn’t leave. With Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m) still at Selhurst Park, until Christmas at the very least, Roy Hodgson’s side retain a chunk of excitement. Cahill could prove a worthy defensive acquisition – and he scored six goals the last time he was considered a guaranteed starter.

Everton

INS

Andre Gomes (MID £5.5m) A successful loan spell from Barcelona became a £22m summer signing. Gomes is the glue that holds the midfield together, but he is rather less important in Fantasy terms, as a goal and two assists last season attests.

Fabian Delph (DEF £5.5m) Around £9m was spent to bring Delph from Manchester City, with manager Marco Silva talking up his midfield credentials. The possibility of out of position returns faintly raises his attraction on the Fantasy chart, but he is pricey and, currently, injured.

Moise Kean (FWD £7.0m) A fee in the region of £27m secured the services of the teenaged Italian striker. Kean scored six goals in 13 Serie A appearances for Juventus last term. Only time will tell if that is good, or risky, business.

Alex Iwobi (MID £6.0m) The talented, if inconsistent, midfielder moved to Everton for £35m after four seasons at the Gunners. Unless he impresses from the get-go, he will be seen as the poor man’s Wilfried Zaha by many a disgruntled Toffee fan.

Jean-Philippe Gbamin (MID £5.0m) A defensive midfielder signed from Mainz, the Ivory Coast international is seen as a direct replacement for Idrissa Gueye. That, and his ability to drop back into central defence, stifles his Fantasy allure. Furthermore, his introduction against Palace jarred the side a little.

Djibril Sidibe (DEF £5.5m) A France international right-back signed on loan from Monaco. Sidibe managed three assists in 26 Ligue 1 appearances last season and will duke it out with Seamus Coleman (£5.5m) for the starting spot at full-back.

Jonas Lossl (GK £4.5m) A free transfer for the former Huddersfield Town stopper. Lossl racked up some good returns, and saved three penalties, across two seasons for the Terriers, but he is unlikely to get the minutes unless Jordan Pickford (£5.5m) implodes.

OUTS

James McCarthy (MID £4.5m) – see Crystal Palace

Muhamed Besic (MID £4.5m) – see Sheffield United

VERDICT

Some solid squad building by Silva, but not too many exciting Fantasy options at first glance.

Kean could be a steal at £7.0m if his explosive potential tallies with some form, although Goodison Park has been a graveyard for strikers in recent seasons.

Elsewhere, Iwobi looks (fittingly) more Theo Walcott (£6.5m) than Wilfried Zaha, while Sidibe has his work cut out to eclipse Coleman’s Fantasy pedigree.

Leicester City

INS

Ayoze Perez (MID £6.5m) A whopping 17.4 per cent of Fantasy managers have been attracted by the £30m signing from Newcastle. He finished last season strongly, scoring 12 times and notching two assists, and the possibility of out-of-position returns is proving hard to resist for many. Was not particularly in the game against Wolves in Gameweek 1

Youri Tielemans (MID £6.5m) If not Perez, then Tielemans… An impressive half-season loanee from Monaco, involving three goals and five assists, became a £35m move over the summer. Brendan Rodgers’ side is widely tipped to flourish this season and Tielemans could be key to that.

Dennis Praet (MID £5.5m) An £18m arrival from Sampdoria, central midfielder Praet managed two goals and three assists in 34 Serie A appearances last season.

James Justin (DEF £5.0m) The 21-year-old right-back was in the League One team of the year at Luton. His potential is undeniable, but replacing Ricardo Pereira (£6.0m) at full-back looks a way off for now.

OUTS

Harry Maguire (DEF £5.5m) – see Manchester United

VERDICT

Optimism abounds at Leicester, with Rodgers’ canny acquisitions fuelling the feel good factor. Both Tielemans and Perez are well-known and well-liked and at least one of them could well live up to the hype this season.

Liverpool

INS

Adrian (GK £4.5m) A free transfer from West Ham United, Adrian might be in for an early run in the side following Friday night’s injury to Alisson (£6.0m). A bargain if playing, just another back-up when not.

VERDICT

Not much is broken at Liverpool, so Jurgen Klopp has felt no need to fix it.

Manchester City

INS

Rodri (MID £5.5m) A £62.5m buy from Atletico Madrid, Rodri is seen as the long-term successor to Fernandinho (£5.5m) as City’s holding midfielder. That statement alone should deter all but the most contrary of Fantasy managers.

Angelino (DEF £5.0m) The Spanish defender cost just over £5 million as a buy-back from PSV Eindhoven, where he spent a season having left the Etihad. Potentially behind both Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.5m) and Benjamin Mendy (£6.0m) in the left-back pecking order.

Joao Cancelo (DEF £5.5m) Part of the deal with Juventus that saw Danilo heading off to Italy. Cancelo will offer serious competition to Kyle Walker (£6.0m) at right-back. Both are attack-minded with defensive shortcomings. Factor in Pep’s rotation roulette and consistent Fantasy returns could be elusive.

OUTS

Patrick Roberts (MID £5.5m) – see Norwich City

Douglas Luiz (MID £4.5m) – see Aston Villa

Fabian Delph (DEF £5.5m) – see Everton

VERDICT

Decent cover at full-back was clearly Pep Guardiola’s main concern over the summer, and he has definitely delivered that. Such solid squad management – and the acquisition of Rodri as a holding midfielder – works for Pep, but creates little Fantasy interest in the newcomers.

Manchester United

INS

Harry Maguire (DEF £5.5m) One of the summer’s more tedious transfer sagas, the England centre-half joined from Leicester for an eye-watering £80m. Even allowing for injuries and the desultory nature of Claude Puel’s regime, Maguire still managed a personal best three goals last term. Helped United to a clean sheet on opening weekend.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DEF £5.5m) The exciting young right-back cost £45m from Crystal Palace to replace the not at all exciting Young right-back. He produced three assists and 18 bonus points during last year’s breakthrough campaign and must now prove that was no fluke. He already has one clean sheet and two bonus to his name already.

Daniel James (MID £6.0m) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first summer signing, the Swansea City youngster cost £15m. The decidedly pacey left-winger had an excellent 2018/19, scoring four times and providing nine assists in 33 Championship games. He hit the ground running in Gameweek 1, netting off the bench on his Manchester United debut.

VERDICT

Everybody, it would seem, hates Ed Woodward and his transfer ‘policy’. But it’s been a half-decent summer for United, with all three new boys offering the prospect of Fantasy fruit.

Maguire should provide central stability and always delivers goals at some point, while Wan-Bissaka is a bonus point magnet.

Both are already well owned, leaving James as the Fantasy punt in Solskjaer’s first full season at the helm.

Newcastle United

INS

Emil Krafth (DEF £4.5m) A £5m buy from Amiens. Krafth is a Sweden international seen as a direct competitor to the currently injured DeAndre Yedlin (£4.5m) for the right-back slot. Five goals and 13 assists over a 204-game career point to a defender with a certain amount of attacking threat.

Joelinton (FWD £6.0m) An impressive (and club record) £40m was spent on securing the services of the Hoffenheim striker. He produced eleven goals and nine assists from 35 appearances in all competitions last year.

Jetro Willems (DEF £4.5m) The Holland international left-back signed on loan from Frankfurt. Experienced he may be, but a measly two assists and no goals from 36 appearances last season do not mark him out as a Fantasy must-have.

Allan Saint-Maximin (MID £5.5m) The winger from Nice signed a six-year deal that could end up costing Newcastle £20m. He comes with a decent tally of six goals and five assists in 34 Ligue 1 appearances last time out.

Andy Carroll (FWD £5.5m) The big man, back home, on a free after years of injuries elsewhere. Carroll’s ability has never been in doubt, nor his unerring knack of breaking down at the drop of a hat. Unless Joelinton crashes and burns, he’s likely to be bench fodder at Newcastle, and not even that for all but the most adventurous of Fantasy managers.

OUTS

Ayoze Perez (MID £6.5m) – see Leicester City

VERDICT

The announcement of Steve Bruce as head coach did little to raise the excitement levels at Newcastle and the team, as a Fantasy prospect, offers little for now.

Joelinton, as a strong striker with an impressive work rate, could become a fan favourite. But as a Fantasy favourite and the new Salomon Rondon? Time will tell.

Norwich City

INS

Josip Drmic (FWD £5.5m) A free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach. Two years of injuries and a bit-part 2018/19 (five games, two goals) hardly speak volumes as to his quality, although his overall Bundesliga record of 31 goals and seven assists in 107 appearances suggests a certain pedigree. Likely, however, to be an understudy for Teemu Pukki (£6.5m).

Patrick Roberts (MID £5.5m) Season-long loanee from Manchester City. Former England youth international winger Roberts has spent almost his entire City career out on loan.

Sam Byram (DEF £4.5m) The right-back joined from West Ham United for £750,000. Byram was a bright young thing when he joined the Hammers from Leeds, but he never really kicked on and made just 26 appearances over a disjointed three years.

Ralf Fahrmann (GK £4.5m) Loan signing from Schalke, where he accumulated 196 Bundesliga appearances across 14 years. Back-up for Tim Krul (£4.5m), although few from Norwich’s defence will attract much Fantasy interest based on Friday night’s performance at Anfield.

VERDICT

Head coach Daniel Farke has essentially kept faith with last season’s title-winning squad, and his few summer signings aren’t exactly screaming for Fantasy attention.

Drmic, if he can stay injury-free, could prosper in what is an attack-minded team, but only if he is included as well as, rather than as a replacement for, Pukki.

Sheffield United

INS

Lys Mousset (FWD £5.0m) Striker signed from Bournemouth for £10m. Five goals in 71 appearances for the Cherries is less than inspiring, although most of those came as a substitute.

Oliver McBurnie (FWD £6.0m) Club-record £17m signing from Swansea City. McBurnie scored 22 times and provided four assists in a profitable Championship campaign last season. His Premier League record is one of limited minutes and, to date, no goals.

Ben Osborn (MID £5.0m) Versatile midfielder/left-back joined from Nottingham Forest. Versatility, alas, can be a bit of a dirty word in Fantasy, with out-of-position midfielders playing in defence being deeply unattractive.

Ravel Morrison (MID £5.0m) The once bright young thing at Manchester United signed on a free from Swedish outfit Ostersund. Morrison’s long career of under-achievement – just 139 appearances since 2011/12 – suggests Blades boss Chris Wilder’s reputation for getting the most out of a player will be seriously tested.

Callum Robinson (MID £5.5m) Signed from Preston North End, the midfielder was his side’s top scorer last season, with 13, despite missing a large chunk of the campaign through injury. His career stats – 61 goals and 28 assists in 214 appearances – are equally impressive, as his deployment as a centre-forward for the Blades.

Muhamed Besic (MID £4.5m) Season-long loanee from Everton. Besic has consistently struggled to make an impact at Goodison Park, not helped by a number of injuries.

Phil Jagielka (DEF £4.5m) Free transfer from Everton. Someone who definitely did make an impact at Goodison, veteran Jagielka brings vast experience of Premier League football with him on his return to Bramall Lane. Whether he has the physical ability to play regularly remains to be seen.

VERDICT

The temptation to brand the Blades as ‘the new Stoke’ should be avoided, despite the potential for Bramall Lane to be a very unwelcome place to visit. Chris Wilder has forged a progressive, patient and possession-based side that creates good chances, if not a great deal of them. New signings who could prosper and emerge as Fantasy assets could be limited to the prolific Robinson and the in-form McBurnie, but only if the team as a whole can step up to the new level demanded of them.

Southampton

INS

Che Adams (FWD £6.0m) A £15m capture from Birmingham City. Adams prospered in a struggling Birmingham side last year, scoring 22 goals and setting up another five. Mobile and industrious, he seems to have settled quickly into a front three under coach Ralf Hasenhuttl, although blanked in his Gameweek 1 outing.

Danny Ings (FWD £6.0m) Liverpool loan signing made permanent for £20 million. Seven goals in 24 appearances for the Saints last season was enough to persuade the club to sign him permanently. Injuries remain the main threat to consistent returns.

Moussa Djenepo (MID £5.5m) A £15m buy from Belgian outfit Standard Liege. Djenepo is a fast winger with a decent goalscoring record – he scored 11 and added six assists in 39 games last season.

OUTS

Matt Targett (DEF £4.5m) – see Aston Villa

VERDICT

Southampton were much-improved under Hasenhuttl last season, but kicking on is an altogether different prospect. All three signings have Fantasy potential, with Ings’ quality and experience complemented by his likely spot-kick duties.

The Saints’ first eight fixtures are not the easiest, however, giving Fantasy managers plenty of time to assess their new arrivals.

Tottenham Hotspur

INS

Giovani Lo Celso (MID £7.5m) Attacking midfielder on a season-long loan from Real Betis. The Argentina international thrived in La Liga last season, scoring 16 times and producing six assists in 45 domestic and European appearances. A good passer and finisher, he is seen by many as the perfect replacement for Christian Eriksen (£9.0m).

Tanguy Ndombele (MID £6.0m) All-action midfielder signed for a club-record £56m from Lyon. The 22-year-old seems to have it all – pace, power, passing and the technique to beat a player or two. Perhaps the only thing he lacks is consistent goal threat, with just three strikes (and eight assists) from 49 games last campaign. That said, he lit up Spurs’ new stadium with an incredible goal from range against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Ryan Sessegnon (MID £5.5m) Starlet signed from Fulham for £30m. Sessegnon has been a transfer waiting to happen for a while now, but his undoubted talent might not play out in Fantasy terms. Should Spurs elect to use him as a left-back, his FPL designation as a midfielder should cripple his Fantasy attraction.

VERDICT

The world and its significant other agree that Spurs have had a brilliant transfer window, although previous inactivity meant that was never going to be a difficult conclusion to reach. The Fantasy impact of their three top-class new arrivals is much harder to call. Lo Celso could be a big hit, but being ‘the new Eriksen’ will be tricky if the old one is still there. Wait and see looks to be the wisest course of action for now.

Watford

INS

Danny Welbeck (FWD £6.0m) – Snapped up on a free transfer after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates. The striker has always been intelligent and hard-working, but also wasteful and injury-prone. He might struggle to keep the likes of Gerard Deulofeu (£6.5m) and Troy Deeney (£6.5m) out of the team on merit alone.

Ismaila Sarr (MID £6.5m) A £40m buy from Rennes, the winger enjoyed a productive 2018/19, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in 50 games. Could prosper if Deulofeu remains in a more advanced role.

Craig Dawson (DEF £5.0m) Experienced West Brom defender snapped up for £5.5m. Dawson has been a firm Fantasy favourite over the years, boosting his defensive output with consistent attacking returns. He scored ten goals over his last three top-flight seasons.

VERDICT

A fairly muted transfer window for coach Javi Gracia, which should prompt an equally studied reaction from Fantasy managers. Sarr has the dynamism to excel, but might need time to bed in. Dawson is a proven Premier League performer, but only time will tell if he gets the consistent starts needed to warrant investment.

West Ham United

INS

Albian Ajeti (FWD £6.0m) Striker bought from Basel on a four-year deal for just £8m. Switzerland international Ajeti scored 15 goals in 35 appearances last season and hit 43 goals and 21 assists in 96 games at Basel. A rising star in Switzerland, likely to be an understudy at the Hammers.

Roberto (GK £4.5m) Free transfer from Espanyol. Experienced keeper with 300+ appearances in various European leagues, Roberto will be Lukasz Fabianski’s (£4.5m) back-up.

Pablo Fornals (MID £6.5m) Young, but experienced, midfielder signed from Villareal for £24m. Capped by Spain at 20 and with 150 La Liga games at 23, the attacking midfielder is a curious mix of the prodigal and the seasoned. He has scored 16 times and provided 22 assists in 159 club games.

Sebastien Haller (FWD £7.5m) Prolific striker signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for £45m. Frenchman Haller was highly productive in Germany last season, hitting 20 goals and providing 12 assists in 41 appearances.

OUTS

Andy Carroll (FWD £5.5m) – see Newcastle United

Adrian (GK £4.5m) – see Liverpool

VERDICT

A lack of consistently threatening attacking options clearly vexed coach Manuel Pellegrini last season, and his summer signings reflect that. Fornals has some serious pedigree, but competition for the more advanced midfield roles is likely to be intense.

Haller has less to fight off up front and could be a fine mid-price option if he can bring his Bundesliga form to England.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

INS

Jesus Vallejo (DEF £5.0m) Real Madrid centre-back signed on season-long loan. Spain’s under 21 captain, Vallejo has made just 19 appearances for Real since signing in 2015. Injuries restricted him to just seven matches last year.

Patrick Cutrone (FWD £6.0m) Striker bought from AC Milan for £23 million. Cutrone, a firm fan favourite in Milan, came through the club’s youth ranks, scoring 27 goals in 90 games. The 21-year-old faces a stiff test to oust the likes of Raul Jimenez (£7.5m) and Diogo Jota (£6.5m) from Wolves’ starting XI.

VERDICT

Wolves’ major summer business involved making last year’s loan deals for Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker (£4.5m) permanent. Those deals represent a successful window by themselves, with the truly new arrivals unlikely to have nearly such a major impact, particularly in Fantasy terms.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 1

692 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Yes, if the funds are spread, it might be an issue. Another question is the best formation. Do we even need 3 strikers. 4-4-2 may also be good. I started with 5-3-2, but not planning to use it for too long period 25 from 4 of them + Zouma failure -1 was okay for me.

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Sorry. Bad reply fail 🙁

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I was trying to answer to Battleofdebruyne, who wrote on previous page that Greenwood is trap and difficult to upgrade.

        Imo the formation is not as important as players and I try to be flexible. The goal for me was to have pretty strong and solid defence and use transfers for mids and fwds later.

        1. Andy_Social
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Perfectly sound thinking.
          He's a troll - don't feed him.

    2. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I started on 442 cause I saw it as the best formation to start with Auba, Salah and Sterling. Once one of them is deemed the lesser option I can downgrade them and have more flexibility in my formation.

  2. ando22
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Stick or twist with Trossard or try and shoehorn sterling in?

    Ryan (Pope)
    TAA,Digne,Zinchenko,Lascelles
    Salah,KDB,Siggy,Trossard
    Kane,Wilson

    Lundstram, Dendoncker, Greenwood

  3. BattleOfDeBruyne
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What's the best GK combo in your opinion?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Heaton/Pope

      1. Takedog1
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        this

      2. BattleOfDeBruyne
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That's a £9m combo. Why not Button?

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          He don’t play

          1. BattleOfDeBruyne
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            He's a sub and has a good chance of playing, plus he's cheap.

        2. Miguel Sanchez
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I inferred from your use of the word combo that you were looking for a rotation. Pope/Button is you want to go as cheap as possible.

          1. BattleOfDeBruyne
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Why not Ryan/Button, it just makes the most sense? If Ryan does get injured then Button starts.

            1. Miguel Sanchez
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Just think the Burnley GK has historically been Fantasy gold due to the way they set up forcing shots from distance generating lots of saves and then relinquishing possession meaning that the GK is right up the BPS anytime a clean sheet is achieved.

              Don't think Brighton will be as defensively solid as Burnley this season, despite an impressive result at the weekend.

              1. BattleOfDeBruyne
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Good analysis.

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Going by last year, Ederson or Alisson but he is cocked for now.

    3. Pinturicchio10
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Brighton keepers I reckon. Decent returns and a built in safety net should Ryan get injured or sent off.

      • Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        - Asks the best GK combo
        - Somebody gives their opinion
        - NO RYAN / BUTTON COMBO
        - Somebody gives their opinion
        - RYAN / BUTTON IS BEST, AGREE WITH ME

        1. Pinturicchio10
            4 years, 7 months ago

            He seems to be getting it from all angles for doing what the majority on here do themselves. But odd don't you think?

            1. Pinturicchio10
                4 years, 7 months ago

                *bit

              • BattleOfDeBruyne
                • 4 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Exactly, I'm just giving my opinion. I have gone for Ryan/Button and then he said something else so I asked why he thought it was that, so that I could get an understanding as to why people have selected Pope over Ryan.

                Guilty Sigurdsson is a troll anyway, best to ignore him.

            2. Andy'81
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Innocent until proven Guilty.

          • ENZO SZN™
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            De Gea / 4.0

            1. Krionos
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              This. Or Ederson, 4.0

        2. Takedog1
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          pope
          TAA/ VVD/ zin
          salah/kdb/b.silva/fraser/ perez
          wilson / jota

          subs ' heaton, lumstrum, greenwood , walk Peters

          some genius please tell me how I can shoehorn sterling into my team please!!!

          1. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            KDB & Bilva > Sterling & Robinson?

            1. Takedog1
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              thanks for your reply.

              id love to keep kdb but just aint possible is it?

              I don't know much about Robinson is he any good?

              1. g40steve
                • 6 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Mid playing OOP.

                Or McGinn, Villa scored at weekend looks very dangerous

                1. Takedog1
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  nice call

          2. The Shaman
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Fraser -> Dendoncker
            TAA/VVD/Zin -> 4.5 (lots of good options)
            Bilva -> Sterling

        3. Oggle22
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          G2G GW2 AND Save FT?
          Heaton
          TAA VVD Zinchenko Ake
          Sterling Salah(c) Moura Bilva
          King Wilson

          Woodman Kelly Dendoncker Greenwood

          Cheers

          1. Takedog1
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            id get rid of bsilva

        4. Don Rogers FC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          So, masive error of judgement meant that I thought it might be OK to go wothout Sterling as long as i had de Bruyne for cover.

          Ryan (Button)

          VVD, Robertson, Zink, (Lundstram, Emerson)

          Salah (c), D.Bruyne, Moura, Fraser, Barkley

          Vardy, Wood, (Greenwood)

          I don't think I can bear to watch Sterling again without having him. Only way to get him is to Ship Debruyne and downgrade

          a) Moura

          b) Francis

          or

          (c) Wait one more week and risk price changes precluding this move?

          1. Don Rogers FC
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Oh, and what 5.0 5th Mid do i bring in?

            1. g40steve
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Dendo, 4.5

            2. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Save 0.5 and get Donckers.

          2. Takedog1
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            im in the same boat but want to keep kdb. why not get rid of Moura and downgrade vardy?

            1. Don Rogers FC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              OK, now you've got me thinking.

            2. Don Rogers FC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              That would mean anther 4.5 Forward and can't see a remotely viable option other than Wickham.

              1. Don Rogers FC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                Think I fancy the Dendonker option but still not sure between Fraser Or Moura to lose.

                1. Don Rogers FC
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 10 Years
                  4 years, 7 months ago

                  Now that the Dndocker option is aparent, the option of holding comes imtomplay becasue i could afford to live with price changes.

                  1. Don Rogers FC
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 10 Years
                    4 years, 7 months ago

                    * In to Play

        5. ★Kuntheman★
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          So my brother and I literally have the same team apart from a handful of players:

          Me: Haller, Martial, Dendoncker, Van Dijk
          Him: Rashford, McGinn, Dunk, TAA

          Since everything else is the same, who do you think has the edge over the course of the season? Because I’m slightly worried that we’re so similar that he might have the advantage

          1. Maddamotha
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            A

          2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Fella, you can't say "So my brother and I literally have the same team apart from a handful of players" you obviously don't have "literally" the same team..............

            1. ★Kuntheman★
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              😆 I concede

            2. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              He literally uses it in the same was as Jamie Redknapp!!

          3. Over Midwicket
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            "over the course of the season"

            Every heard of a FT mate? You have 37 of them for free

            1. Andy_Social
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Is the literally free, or metaphorically? 😉

          4. LosBlancos
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            All starters?

            Id expect martial to match rashford while both play)(think Martial is a bigger risk), haller + dendonker outscore mcginn + dunk but TAA outscores VVD by a decent margin I think. Its all down to Haller I think

          5. Baps hunter
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Very close call and depends on Haller, but you should have just slightly better team.

          6. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            you might both consider changing your teams at some point using ft’s, wildcards and so on

          7. Krionos
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            My best friend and main rival in our money league had almost identical teams after Christmas. With me having a solid lead, I liked the idea of having similar teams because he wouldn't have much chance of catching up (I was almost 100 points ahead).

            Well he caught me with just a few different captaincy picks in a few gameweeks and 1 or two differentials that did well.

            4 different players can make a huge difference! Not to mention it's GW 1 and your teams will chop and change a lot over the season...

        6. Baps hunter
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Heaton / McGovern
          TAA, VvD, Coleman, Zinchenko, Zouma
          Salah, Fraser, Perez, / Hayden, Donks
          Kane, Auba / Greenwood

          Which is best choice?

          A) Wait and take .1 tv loss with Sterling rising and -4 (+extra downgrade) next week

          B) Kane+Fraser > Sterling + Pukki now before being priced out (and perhaps Auba to Kane hokey pokey for gw3)

          C) Wait now and Auba + Fraser > Sterling + 6.0 fwd (who?) for free next week

          The problem early in the season is that the effect of .1 price rise has atm same effect as .5 rise 🙁

          1. Over Midwicket
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Save. Geez.

            1. Baps hunter
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              😉

          2. SADIO SANÉ
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            B could work a treat, up to you though

          3. Brosstan
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            No point thinking about it until at least the Super Cup has been played.

          4. g40steve
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Keep Salah.....one of K or A has to go, Fraser has easy game looking at ticker this week?

            SKA could do well this week & Ster could be benched, this game Ehh?

          5. LosBlancos
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            B with Ings or Che

          6. EMBOLOFAN
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            none of this. just roll your ft and see what happens. sterling is the same player you opted to ignore last week. he wont score 3 every week

            1. Brosstan
              • 9 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              According to this place anyone who didnt pick him made a "massive and obvious mistake" because he happened to overperform massively and scored almost 10% of his entire points tally from last season in a single game.

              1. Cok3y5murf
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 7 months ago

                I'm a Sterling owner and I'm cringing hard anytime someone here says he's a must-have or essential. I got 76 points with Sterling and know plenty who got the same without him. Some people play with so much fear.

          7. clodhopper
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Prob best too stick this week dont think spurs will give sterling much room too play but you never know early days

        7. Don Rogers FC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          When do we expect Sterling to rise?

          1. Miguel Sanchez
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Once Brexit has concluded...

            But seriously, Raheem could go up to 12.1 tonight (90.8% on FPLstats)

            1. Don Rogers FC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Cheers

        8. Swanremainsthesame
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Suggest you go take a look at elite64 league, before continuing to post that having cheap strikers is wrong
          (Hint most of those legends have Greenwood)