Fantasy Premier League: 10 New Transfers You Must Consider
And no, it's not Takuma Asano...
So who are all these new faces then? It’s always difficult when selecting a player who’s recently switched clubs. Are they the next Ronaldo or the next Obertan? Will they settle and deliver the goods or will they mentally crumble under the weight of their price tag?
Chucking Angel Di Maria into your Fantasy League team might have seemed a good idea at the time - he had the credentials to back it up… six months later, he would be lamenting an attempted break-in and would be scrambling for the Old Trafford exit.
Similarly, you may have steered clear of Dimitri Payet last year - a troubled maverick exiled from the international stage and having failed to settle at a club longer than a few years. Sure he may have racked up a few assists, but Remy Cabella did the same in France, didn’t he?
It’s hard to judge.
Take a look at this list of Fantasy League newcomers who you should take a punt on. There’s no way of knowing for sure if they’ll be a flop or not - at times you just need to use your gut instinct. But hopefully these tips will help you make a few decisions along the way.
10. Victor Valdes (Middlesbrough) - £4.5
How on earth did Victor Valdes end up here? From the sunny suburbs of Catalonia to the grimy industrial estates of Middlesbrough, the Spaniard really needs to rethink how he makes his career decisions.
However, what is abundantly clear is that Middlesbrough have acquired a top-class goalkeeper with a wealth of experience.
It’s not everyday that a promoted club signs a three-time Champions League winner and World Cup winner. The 34-year-old’s trophy cabinet would dwarf that of the club’s, which by now is probably due for a good dusting following League Cup success in 2004. Putting Valdes in your team at £4.5 is a no-brainer, particularly given Middlesbrough’s excellent defensive record.
His goalkeeping competition at the Riverside take shape in the form of the woeful Brad Guzan and Dimitrios Konstantopolous, who is nearly as old as time itself. Valdes should have no problem in laying claim to the No.1 jersey and collecting a myriad of clean sheets along the way.