Transfer Roundup Vol. 2
...just like the first volume: does not include Messi (yet!).
The season did officially kick off today, with Arsenal and Liverpool contesting the first trophy of the season. While the Community Shield saw largely full-strength squads, the fact that there is a two-week break between today’s action and the Premier League curtain-raisers on 12 September, is great news. Many - too many - footballers have been called up for international duty and, in the process, tested positive for COVID. A short list includes Paul Pogba and Tanguy Ndombele while eight (8!!) Chelsea players are in quarantine.
This comes just days after The Telegraph reported 14 positive cases across 12 clubs as players returned to training following the shortened summer holiday. It’s going to get bumpy and we can only hope the Premier League comes to their senses about allowing spectators, further increasing the risk of spread. None of this is particularly relevant to transfer news, except that I’m covering a couple of players I might not expect to be fantasy relevant under typical circumstances, but with player availability potentially impacted by the pandemic.
Arsenal - Pablo Mari (DEF), William Saliba (DEF)
Mari is in officially having already joined the club on loan and earned a couple of starts during Restart. 19 year old Saliba may be ready in the eyes of supporters but remains to be seen if Arteta is willing to hand him the keys. The two men play the same position and one where Arsenal have famously tried and failed repeatedly to land a center pairing that can work together and stay healthy. Either are worth streaming value, but this back line is far from decided and - when it is - far from polished. A season ago Arsenal was 12th in expected goals allowed (xGA) and did manage to significantly over-perform: the Gunners allowed only 48 goals from 57.24 xGA. Their closest comparison was Crystal Palace which allowed 50 goals on 57.39 xGA. That’s not the company Mikel Arteta or fantasy managers want their defense to keep.
Cedric Soares (DEF)
Soares gets his own line because we know what to expect of him from his time in Southampton and it’s not heartening. This team needs a serious defensive enema before the October deadline.
Burnley - Marc Richter (GK)
Boo, it’s the GK. No thank you. No thank you at all.
Chelsea - Malang Sarr (DEF)
More defenders in - this time three at Chelsea! Three. Malang Sarr is the youngest of the trio of new arrivals at 21 years old, but he has earned 50 Ligue 1 starts for Nice over the past two seasons. There is nothing stopping him from securing a regular starting spot - in some ways the arrival of the man directly below this may help as Thiago Silva would be the perfect foil for the younger player to play with the confidence he needs; while also having the young legs and stamina to help cover for Silva. Sarr isn’t more than a DEF4 on draft day, but that still makes him draftable.
Thiago Silva (DEF)
35 and fresh off a Champions League Final, Thiago Silva’s got the pedigree Frank Lampard wants but it’s doubtful he has the legs left to be an every-week starter in the Premier League. Many are going to be drafting him as their DEF3 but I honestly like him more as a streaming option once his first owner gets frustrated and drops him. Like London rivals Arsenal, this Chelsea side are wanting for Marie Kondo to visit and sweep the decks clean.
Ben Chilwell (DEF)
Chilwell’s value doesn’t shift much with the move from Leicester - though it leaves the Foxes without 1/2 their first-choice defense to start the year. The young star should hold down his position all season; again an arrival that does more to compromise the value of those already at the club. Chelsea are a nightmare to rank in nearly every position.
Crystal Palace - Eberechi Eze (FWD)
If you’re not careful, you might end up with Eze as your third round pick! For whatever reason some draft platforms have him listed absurdly high in their default draft queues. Exe joins from Championship side Queens Park Rangers where he has demonstrated significant growth over the past three seasons, capped by 14 goals and eight assists in 46 appearances last season. Eze has a lot of the skill fantasy managers, particularly draft fantasy managers, covet. In 2019-20 he led his team in shots (102), total and successful dribbles (222/136) and key passes (82).
This move looks a lot like Palace are planning for the loss of Wilfried Zaha who led the Eagles in those same four statistics this past season. If Zaha stays, Eze provides a legitimate threat who would draw the attention away from Wilf; if Wilf goes, expect Eze to face the same level of defensive pressure (read: constant kicking). He’s worth a top 50 pick in Togga-style at Fantrax where he’s rated a midfielder.
Fulham - Antonee Robinson (DEF)
My kingdom for a not-defender transferring into the EPL. The American spent last season with Wigan and his arrival is part of the Fulham restructuring of a defense looked incapable of making the leap to the next level. I guess he’s there to supplement Joe Bryan when Scott Parker looks to change his tactics (jokes!) or moves Bryan into the left side of midfield. There isn’t much value here yet, likely not at all this season. He won’t crack the Top 200, but honestly he also won’t even crack the Defender ranks and I currently have 63 defenders in the ‘draftable’ tiers.
Leeds - Cody Drameh (DEF) Sam Greenwood (FWD)
These new signings are both 18. If Leeds stay up, they’re maybe worth watching for dynasty leagues but more likely you only need to know who they are so you can cross them off the list.
Newcastle United - Jeff Hendrick (MID)
He’s never had more than 150 points in a season when he was with Burnley. Sean Dyche may not be the best manager to find attacking returns in midfield, but Hendrick’s move to Newcastle has him on the depth chart behind an existing midfield quartet of Saint-Maximin, Shelvey, Almiron and Hayden. If Hayden does leave (which has been rumored) that frees up significant minutes, leaving Hendrick to battle with Championship Fantasy Darling Matt Ritchie and at least one Longstaff for starts. There have already been double-digit departures from Tyneside but none from the regular rotation; this side unquestionably needed strengthening and Hendrick is good for that. Not great for your fantasy team.
Sheffield United - Aaron Ramsdale (GK)
Another Transfer Roundup, another box of stolen pens. In this case the box of stolen pens contains yet another new goalkeepers for The Blades. Ramsdale is the prohibitive favourtie to earn the bulk of starts between the sticks for Chris Wilder which makes him a valuable target in the final round of your draft. Of course, someone is going to take him before that, so you’ll end up with Tom Heaton, or Sam Johnstone, or Marek Rodak, or Youget Theidea, or Peter Schmeichel. Any of them are preferable to taking Ramsdale early. But if he’s there in the 15th round you could do worse.
A Hamilton fantasy draft is dropping soon on Bang Average feat. @SportsByGotti @zainosaurus and @DWade. You’ll want to mute my twitter for a couple of days.
Thanks to the good folks at @drafterthoughts who pointed out I’ve confused Marco (FWD) with Marc (GK) and it is sadly MARC Richter who has made the move. As Andy Richter would be more fantasy relevant than another Burnley GK, I’ll be updating shortly and then formally petitioning the EPL to enforce some FPL relevant moves!