Fantasy Football scout report

[sake]

Transfer Deadline Day may not have offered the drama of recent years but it has thrown up some lower-budget options for

It was more a case of squad strengthening for most clubs, so it will be worth monitoring how managers utilise their recent acquisitions before pulling out the chequebook.

Daniel Sturridge's return to fitness and a favourable run for Manchester City throws up some obvious options for those looking to bring in tried and tested high scorers.

However, Sky Sports Fantasy Football bosses are provided with some cheaper alternatives from the Deadline-Day moves. Here's what our scout makes of the main late movers:
Juan Cuadrado - £7.7million

The Colombia winger was one of the most expensive signings of the January transfer window but enters the game at a reasonable price of £7.7m, £0.1m less than the man he is expected to do battle with for the right-wing berth, Willian. If Cuadrado can secure that spot then he looks far better value, having contributed four goals and the same amount of assists for Fiorentina compared to the Brazilian’s solitary contribution in both categories. However, any seasoned Sky Sports Fantasy Football boss will tell you that the key to racking up points on a consistent basis is to have regular starters in your side, making the 26-year-old a gamble at this stage. Also, with Cuadrado capable of playing as a winger or a wing-back, it remains to be seen how often Jose Mourinho will utilise him in a more defensive role. While his qualities are undoubted, Raheem Sterling (£7.8m) and Christian Eriksen (£7.6m) look better options in the same price bracket.
Darren Fletcher - £4.8million

The social media outpour from Fletcher’s former team-mates shows how highly the veteran midfielder was rated at Manchester United, but will he be a valuable fantasy football asset with first-team football looking more likely at West Brom? Gone are the days when defensive midfielders were dismissed as ‘water carriers’ and that is reflected in the current Sky Sports Fantasy Football scoring system. Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic has been heralded for his impressive team displays this season and has been recognised with 92 points. Breaking those stats down we can see that the majority have come from the bonus system; 18 for passing bonus, 16 for tackle bonus, six for two assists and five for his solitary goal. Indeed, Matic has the same amount of points as Nacir Chadli (seven goals, six assists), so if Fletcher does the business for West Brom, expect him to be aptly rewarded.
Aaron Lennon - £6.6million

First of all, do not transfer Lennon in for this weekend. Everton’s Deadline-Day loan signing has not kicked a ball since December 11, so it looks extremely unlikely that he’ll be thrown straight in for Saturday’s Merseyside derby, especially given the Toffees got back to winning ways at Crystal Palace last weekend. Secondly, history suggests it’s almost as unlikely that he will be a prolific points scorer even once fully fit and starting every week. The 27-year-old managed just 66 points last season, scoring once and setting up three from his 26 starts for Tottenham. His previous stats are slightly more impressive, with an average of 3.25 goals and 5.75 assists per season between 2009-10 and 2012-13, but those tallies still barely justify his fee.
Filip Djuricic - £4.6million

The number crunchers at Sky Sports Fantasy Football clearly are not expecting much from Southampton’s latest recruit, pricing him up at a lower value than Burnley’s goal-shy Dean Marney. The Serb was rated a top young prospect during his free-scoring days at Heerenveen, leaving the Eredivisie with seventeen goals in his final two seasons. However, he struggled to make the expected impression at Benfica, failing to net in 11, before posting the same stats during a loan stint at Mainz. The 23-year-old will be looking to get his career back on track at St Mary’s but his opportunities are likely to be limited, with Dusan Tadic, Sadio Mane and Eljero Elia already competing for the attacking midfield berths behind Graziano Pelle. If opportunities are taken and his goalscoring form from Heerenveen can be rediscovered then he will be a real bargain. While that looks unlikely given recent form, Ronald Koeman’s record in the transfer market since taking the Saints reins makes him worth keeping an eye on.
Robert Huth - £5.9million

Every pundit in the land emphasised the importance of Leicester acquiring some Premier League experience on Deadline Day, but can Huth really save his new side? The towering centre-back slipped out of favour at Stoke under Mark Hughes but, at 30 and having never particularly relied on his pace, he looks a great addition. The Foxes have only kept four clean sheets this season but their back line has not been a total farce, conceding just two more goals than 11th-placed Newcastle. He can also be expected to chip in at the other end, netting 12 times in the four campaigns in which he was a regular starter. However, with a transfer fee applied as a Stoke player, he’s priced up at £0.9m more than other Leicester defenders, including Jeffrey Schlupp who has been used as a winger this season.