Transfer Window Deadline Day



transfer window wrap-up courtesy Yahoo!UK/Eurosport:
Everton signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid for six million pounds (6.8 million euros) just before the transfer window shut on Tuesday.

Heitinga agreed a five-year contract with the Premier League club and the move was announced in the final hour before the 1600GMT deadline.

The 25-year-old follows French defender Sylvain Distin to Goodison Park as Toffees boss David Moyes strengthens his back-four after Joleon Lescott's move to Manchester City.

Presumably Heitinga is Everton's answer to their ongoing right-back dilemma. He could be a really nice fantasy option in Everton's stabilized, new-look defense.

On a relatively low-key transfer deadline day, Tottenham swooped for Portsmouth's Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

We here at the blog were rooting for Spurs to sign the cheaper and more dynamic Martin Petrov, but alas it wasn't to be. At over 10, Kranjcar is probably too expensive to bring in to too many fantasy teams where the money is probably better spent on more consistent or lonelier playmakers (who won't be sharing creative duties with the likes of Lennon and THud).

And then there was an odd round of center-back shuffle:

Aston Villa spent five million pounds (5.8 million euros) to sign Wales defender James Collins from West Ham.

Collins put pen to paper on a four-year contract and could make his debut against local rivals Birmingham on September 13.

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart made a triple swoop for Watford centre-back Mike Williamson, Manchester City defender Tal Ben Haim and Benfica midfielder Hassan Yebda.

Israel international Ben Haim agreed a four-year contract and his free transfer will be rubber-stamped once he has been given a work permit.

Hart could pair Ben Haim with Williamson, who cost three million pounds (3.8 million euros) from Championship club Watford and agreed a four-year contract.

Elsewhere, Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland for 2.75 million pounds (3.1 million euros), although the fee for the 29-year-old could rise to 3.5 million pounds (3.9 million euros)

Hull boss Phil Brown increased his defensive options by landing Senegal centre-back Ibrahima Sonko, 28, on a season-long loan from Stoke.

Nothing much to see here for fantasy unless you're looking for a cheap option in Sonko. Though you might have been happier had he stayed in Stoke's reserves.

However one worth watching could be:

Bolton bolstered their forward line by signing Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic, 29, on a one-year loan from French club Nantes.

Klasnic has had a checkered career - he'll get hot for a season or 18-months and then goes off the boil (or gets injured) for as long. If he could get hot for Bolton, he could be a god-send for them and a viable fantasy option for you. I wonder if it will be worth picking him at Portsmouth next game week? Certainly it will be worth monitoring his status in the game (does he get posted?) and the Ginger Mourinho's comments about his status in the Bolton XI (or XVIII).

Finally,

Birmingham signed Finland midfielder Teemu Tainio, 29, on loan from Sunderland for the rest of the season.

Bringing their total of holding midfielders to a dangerously unstable number -- Carsley, Bowyer, Ferguson, Tainio, and injured captain Johnson.

6 comments:

  1. Heitinga for SeaBass could be the transfer that 25% of managers make for next week.

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  2. and Tuncay for 1.00, about 50% of managers

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  3. @Shayan, is Heitinga worth the Seabass position?

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  4. Well, Heitinga is a decent switch from Seabass (With Woody comin back soon? King's injury?) However, playing in La Liga fantasy also, Heitinga already has -2 points with a yellow card.
    he DID score 3 goals last year, but was scoreless the previous 2 years. And I believe while researching La Liga, Heitinga finished with something like -14 points in total last year(Could be wrong) But he's listed only as 3.95 in THAT league, so I wouldn't pull the switch JUST yet.

    I like Huddlestone, he'll take kicks with Modric out...

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  5. i played fantasy in spain last year and had heitinga from the first game. he scored two goals in the first three games.
    the problem for him is that he played on one of the worst defences in la liga. it is hard to create points if you are shipping out goals.
    i kept him for most of the season because he got down to 1 point, at some point and he was worthwhile to me.

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  6. @Owen - Not too worried about the card problem since the La Liga is soft compared to the Prem. Maybe I'm high on Johnny because I'm finally starting to drink Jeremy's Everton Koolade but especially with Jags out, the boy should be guaranteed a spot.

    SeaBass faces Manure and Chelski- both of which will score on Spurs.

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