A final frenzy of Premier League signings was always likely to happen ahead of the transfer deadline, and that’s exactly what we got—save for Jermain Defoe not moving to Queens Park Rangers.
Radamel Falcao joined Manchester United, avoiding the Champions League for yet another season. Danny Welbeck took his talents to Arsenal. Tom Cleverley was always a Villain to United fans but now he’s actually at Aston Villa, while Hull City and QPR combined to spend more money this summer than all of Italy’s big five teams combined.
How does it all shake out fantasy football wise? Whose more valuable and who is less valuable? Let’s try to figure that out.
First, if you haven’t yet, join up for European Football Weekly’s Fantasy EPL Fantasy League (League ID: 10067, Password: m0d2xng. It’s still early enough in the season that you can make a run at us at the top of the table.
HULL CITY
• Abel Hernandez (7.1M)
• Hatem Ben Arfa (6.29M)
• Gaston Ramirez (4.69M)
For me, the Tigers were the winners of deadline day. They made some very interesting moves to improve their attack. Abel Hernandez from Palermo has long been a player I’ve admired. He never quite put it all together in Serie A, but he helped Palermo to promotion with 14 goals in the Italian second division last season. He will be tremendously helped by the creative talent Steve Bruce added around him in Hatem Ben Arfa from Newcastle, and Gaston Ramirez of Southampton—two players out of favour with their clubs and arriving on loan deals. Hull have just become a very interesting team to watch.
For now Ramirez looks like the biggest value and may be worth stashing on your bench for the time being. He never really got an extended opportunity at Southampton.
Arsenal
• Danny Welbeck (8.88M)
Few players divide opinion like Danny Welbeck. His transfer from Manchester United to Arsenal was either raved, or laughed at. Some say he’s going to emulate Daniel Sturridge who thrived after moving to Liverpool from Chelsea. Others think he’ll continue to be a middling talent. Either way, for fantasy purposes, the opportunity is there until Olivier Giroud comes back from injury. He’s a player I’m buying when Arsenal has a good matchup.
Southampton
• Sadio Mane (6.16M)
• Toby Alderweireld (7.08M)
The promise of these two deadline day deals is intriguing. Alderweireld will help on the back line, while Mane is an exciting attacking talent. He scored 45 goals in 87 games with Red Bull Salzburg, and Saints manager Ronald Koeman says Mane can play on either wing or centrally. He is definitely a player to keep an eye on.
Manchester United
• Radamel Falcao (7.65M)
• Daley Blind (7.97M)
The calls to sign true centre-backs were never answered, so it seems the path to the top four is with goals. It’s still up in the air how Falcao will perform after a knee surgery earlier this season that kept him out of the World Cup. United isn’t lacking for attacking talent, and it will be interesting to see how Louis van Gaal fits it all into his best XI. Di Maria, Mata, Herrera, Rooney, van Persie, and Falcao can certainly do some damage. I’m buying in for the next match at home to QPR, as Falcao could be a steal at this price.
It remains to be seen how Blind will be used, but all van Gaal has talked about since his arrival is his versatility. Since he is listed as a midfielder in Fantasy it may limit his value compared to being a defender where he could have received clean sheets—although, there may not be many of those for United this season.
The remainder of the Deadline Day deals are ones that won’t make too much difference to the fantasy landscape. Especially Tom Cleverley.
Enjoy the International break!
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