As another transfer window slams shut, we take a look at some of the moves that have taken place over the past 24-hours prior to 11pm. We’ll have full Moving Target and Scout Report article on the main protagonists over the next few days but, for just now, here’s a heads-up on some of the trades that could have a real say on our Fantasy thinking over the season ahead.
Mesut Ozil to Arsenal
Finally, Arsene Wenger has splashed the cash and grabbed a real marquee signing. Arriving at the Emirates in a deal rumoured to be in the region of £42.5 million, Ozil affords Fantasy managers a real premium talent to consider for their five-man midfields. While many will be contemplating bringing in the German international, his installation as Arsenal’s chief playmaker will, in turn, boost the Fantasy prospects of the Gunners attackers, with his superb eye for a pass set to tee up chances aplenty for Wenger’s side. With Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott on either flank and Olivier Giroud leading the line, the former Real Madrid man should garner numerous assists from the role in “the hole” – rather than mulling over a switch to the new boy, Walcott and Giroud Fantasy owners will be licking their lips at the prospect of Ozil’s acquisition. There are two big questions now – how much will Ozil cost us and do we dare double up on Arsenal’s attacking assets?
Mamadou Sakho to Liverpool
Liverpool have invested heavily in the versatile defender from PSG, whose acquisition has been described as “a massive coup” by Brendan Rodgers. Kolo Toure’s Fantasy owners have every reason to be concerned here – the Reds will hardly have shelled out £15m for a bench-warmer, with Sakho, who can also operate at left-back, looking odds-on to partner Daniel Agger in the heart of the Merseysiders’ back-four. His price will be keenly anticipated by Fantasy managers – given the Agger, Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson are all 6.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Sakho will be earmarked by many if he’s listed as cheaper. Toure’s current groin injury may hand Sakho – providing he is fully match-fit – a chance to step into the first XI in a fortnight’s time, while Martin Skrtel looks set to slip further down the pecking order. With a strong run of fixtures ahead, Sakho will move quickly onto Fantasy radars in light of the Reds’ opening run of three successive clean sheets. There are several questions to answer now – how much will Ozil cost us and do we double up on Gunners attacking assets?
Victor Moses to Liverpool
According to Brendan Rodgers, the Nigerian international’s arrival could occasionally see Philippe Coutinho shifted to a central position behind the lone striker for the Reds. The Liverpool boss has revealed that, while Moses offers his side options on both flanks, he feels the former Wigan man is best utilised on the left as an inverted winger – a scenario which would hand Coutinho the role in “the hole”. With Luis Suarez back from suspension towards the end of the month, though, and the likes of Iago Aspas and Jordan Henderson offering options on the right, it remains to be seen just how much game time he’ll be handed over his season-long loan deal, though Rodgers revealed he’s been after the player previously and is clearly an admirer.
Martin Demichelis to Man City
With Vincent Kompany currently sidelined due to a groin injury, Manuel Pellegrini has added to his central defensive options for the upcoming campaign. Although his side have registered two clean sheets in three matches, Manuel Pellegrini has turned to a familiar face in order to avoid a repeat of the display which saw Cardiff put three past City in Gameweek 2 – bearing in mind Demichelis has previously played under the Chilean for River Plate and Malaga, he’s clearly a favourite of the new manager. While Kompany will surely be nailed-on once he returns in around four to six weeks, Matija Nastasic no longer appears a definite starter alongside the Belgian, while Joleon Lescott – despite starting all three games so far – looks likely to tumble down the pecking order once Pellegrini has as fully-fit quota of centre-halves to choose from. The Chilean has already rotated in the left-back area and although leaving Pablo Zabaleta has been quick off the mark, we’ve yet to see how Pellegrini assesses the right-back slot once Micah Richards returns from a hamstring complaint.
Marko Arnautovic and Stephen Ireland to Stoke
The Austrian offers options through the middle and on the right flank for the Potters. Mainly utilised as a right winger by former club Werder Bremen, Arnautovic racked up five goals and eight assists last season from the flank but, standing six foot three, he’s an obvious target man alternative to Peter Crouch up front. Jon Walters’ owners could be a little worried by Arnautovic’s arrival, too – the Republic of Ireland international has been fielded on the right in each of the opening three Gameweeks. Mark Hughes’ decision to snap up Ireland from Villa on a season-long loan is an intriguing one. The midfielder – down to 4.8 in FPL – is likely battle with Charlie Adam for the role in “the hole” behind a lone striker and, given that he produced his most impressive football under the Welshman during their time together at City, is clearly a favourite of the Potters boss.
Adrian Mariappa and Jack Hunt to Crystal Palace
Arriving from Reading, Mariappa offers the Eagles plenty versatility and pace in defence and can play at either centre-half or right-back, while Hunt – a highly-rated former Huddersfield right-back – also threatens to shake up the defensive pecking order for the promoted club. Granted, Palace have hardly been particularly resilient at the back but both Danny Gabbidon and Joel Ward – at 4.0 apiece in FPL – have offered Fantasy managers a security of cut-price starts thus far under Ian Holloway. The pair of new signings may well place question marks against their guaranteed game time. With Barry Bannan, Andrew Johnson and Adlene Guedioura also arriving before today’s deadline, Palace were the most active Premier League club on show.
Libor Kozak to Aston Villa
The Czech international striker arrives from Lazio and made his mark for the Serie A club last term, where he finished the season as top scorer in the Europa League after racking up 10 goals. Kozak, according to Paul Lambert, has been signed to take the burden off Christian Benteke, with the Villa boss looking for target man back-up to the bustling Belgian. Given Lambert’s penchant for a lone striker system, the new boy may have to rely on cup games to prosper once again, with Benteke undoubtedly remaining the main man for the midlanders.
Alvaro Vazquez to Swansea
Michael Laudrup has once again returned to the Spanish market, with the 22-year-old forward arriving on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal. The move may be good news for Michu owners – Laudrup has shifted last season’s top scorer into the lone forward role in two of the first three Gameweeks as he eases Wilfried Bony into the fold and Michu has toiled so far this term, firing blanks in each of his three league appearances. While Vazquez is unlikely to claim a regular starting berth, his arrival will afford the Swans’ more options as Laudrup attempts to juggle Europa League duties – the Dane reckons the youngster “will give us a different option” up top from the brute power offered by Bony.
Peter Odemwingie to Cardiff
Frozen out at the Hawthorns after failing to force through a move to QPR in the previous transfer window, the Nigerian wings his way to Wales as Malky Mackay adds more top-flight experience to his squad. Odemwingie’s versatility could afford him game time on the flank but, classified as a forward in Fantasy games, he is set for a reverse out of position berth, should he managed to force his way into the Bluebirds first-team. Having failed to feature for Steve Clarke’s side, fitness will surely be an issue for the Nigerian – game time from the bench seems the likeliest scenario, with the possibility of a role up top only if Mackay opts for a two-man frontline when chasing a result.
Morgan Amalfitano to West Brom
Arriving from Marseille on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move, the Frenchman will also afford the goal-shy Baggies a much-needed creativity. Mainly utilised as a right-sided midfielder, Amalfitano will be looking to return to the form that harvested five goals and 16 assists for Lorient back in 2010/11. Given that the midlands side have failed to score a single goal, a starting role looks likely for the new boy as Clarke looks for better service for the likes of Nicolas Anelka up top.
Stephane Sessegnon to West Brom
Omitted from the Sunderland squad last weekend as a result of a drink-driving arrest, the Benin international was on borrowed time under Paolo Di Canio. A move to the Hawthorns looks the best move for all parties concerned as Sessegnon looks to rediscover the form that produced 161 and 141 FPL points over the past two seasons. A host of new faces places question marks over some of the current Baggies crop – with Sessegnon best-suited to a role behind a lone striker and Amalfitano situated wide right, James Morrison owners, in particular, will be somewhat concerned where the first-team shake-up leaves the Scot. At 6.8, Sessegnon could tempt some; bearing in mind Clarke has broken the club record fee to tempt him, he looks nailed on for the midlands outfit, with a return to last term’s 4-2-3-1 formation perhaps on the cards. With Victor Anichebe also arriving at the death from Everton, Clarke has significantly boosted his attacking options. Shane Long remained at the club, despite a proposed deadline day move to Hull City.
Andreas Dossena and Fabio Borini to Sunderland
Dossena’s arrival ends Di Canio’s summer-long search for a natural left-back and immediately raises question marks over Jack Colback’s game time. The midfielder has been filling in at the back due to a lack of options but could well lose his place to the former Napoli man; with home games against Arsenal, United and Liverpool in the next four, Fantasy managers will be steering well clear of the Black Cats’ defenders. Borini offers the Sunderland boss another frontline alternative should be prefer to play with two up top – Steven Fletcher is likely to be eased back into full fitness off the bench, allowing Borini to battle it out with Connor Wickham for a space alongside Jozy Altidore. Once Fletcher is up to full match sharpness, though, the loan signing is likely to rely on game time off the bench for the Wearsiders.
Romelu Lukaku to Everton
While the clubs are yet to confirm the deal, the player himself has declared the move complete via twitter. Having failed to persuade Jose Mourinho he’s worthy of a first-team slot, Lukaku is to move to Merseyside on a season-long loan. With 17 goals and seven assists for West Brom in 2012/13, Lukaku was a mid-price phenomenon for the Baggies and has dropped dramatically in price to 7.4 due to his lack of minutes over the first three Gameweeks. After falling off Fantasy radars over the last few weeks, Lukaku is suddenly, and somewhat unexpectedly, back in the mix as an option up top once again – given that the Toffees have failed to score in each of their last two, Roberto Martinez’ side clearly need someone to finish off the multitude of chances they are creating. If you’re already eyeing up a transfer in, it’s worth noting Lukaku is unavailable for Gameweek 4 – the Toffees host parent club Chelsea at Goodison.
Marouane Fellaini to Man United
The Belgian’s last-minute move to the champions sees him reunited with David Moyes at Old Trafford. Fielded in “the hole” behind Nikica Jelavic in the previous campaign, his 11 goals and seven assists forced a substantial hike across the Fantasy games but Fellaini’s position will be far less offensive than last time around, with Moyes expected to station the former Toffee in front of the United back-four. It remains to be seen what Fellaini’s departure from Goodison will mean for Ross Barkley, though; the youngster be set to retain his starting role as the most advanced of the Everton midfield three under Roberto Martinez, with Darron Gibson – when fit – slotting in alongside Leon Osman in the centre of the park. However, with both Gareth Barry and James McCarthy arriving at Goodison, there’s no question that Martinez will have new options in the engine room.
