Transfer deadline day is a little bit like Christmas. There’s a load of build up; everyone’s talking about it, and you get excited about who your team might get. Then the day gets here, and you unwrap Peter Odemwingie and fall asleep drunk on the sofa before it’s all over. For fantasy though, it only takes one. One big name transfer in or out of the Premier League can be a league changer. One big, hairy, Argentinian transfer. Look out for that one player on this week’s Premier League Transfer Wire.
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Week 23 Premier League Waiver Wire
1. Gonzalo Higuain – Forward – Chelsea – 0% Owned
I told you! What did I tell you? Didn’t I tell you, save your waiver pick! If you don’t get him now, you only have yourself or your prudent league mates to blame! Now is when I’m meant to tell you ‘don’t go crazy over a 31-year-old Chelsea loanee’, but screw it, I got Gonzalo fever. Higuain had his best season under Sarri at Napoli, and he comes into a team desperately lacking an effective striker. He should get excellent service from the players around him, and his finishing is rarely in doubt. Higuain could be the new, old Aubemayang. You don’t need me to tell you to pick him up from the Premier League transfer wire!
2. Ryan Babel – Midfielder – Fulham – 34% Owned
Ryan Babels still going?! Babel has been around! He has played for no less than nine teams in his long career and has now landed at relegation candidates Fulham. Babel has some quality even if he a somewhat average player. He will likely get significant playing time for Fulham and has performed well for them so far in this limited sample size. Babel strikes me as a low ceiling, high floor player that could be a useful pickup from the Premier League transfer wire.
3. Denis Suarez – Midfielder – Arsenal – 0% Owned
I’ll admit I hit the roof when I saw the headline ‘Arsenal sign Suarez from Barcelona’. Of course, it took a few seconds to realize that ‘the biter’ himself wouldn’t sign for the Gunners. Barcelona’s second-best Suarez, however, is nothing to be scoffed at. Suarez is another one of those wonder-kids who despite having reasonable success has never really fulfilled their potential. He is small and creative, somewhere in the mold of a David Silva, although nowhere near as good. Arsenal has been treading water recently, and Olle Gunnar Shark-jaer is looming to chomp down on their top 4 hopes. Emery has tinkered with Arsenal’s midfield all season, meaning there is a reasonable chance for Suarez to get Premier League minutes. His role is however unknown and the competition for minutes might mean he is best left on the Premier League transfer wire for the time being.
4. Miguel Almiron – Midfielder – Newcastle United – 0% Owned
Newcastle finally splashed out and broke their record transfer fee signing Miguel Almiron from Atlanta for a reported 20 million pounds. Fans of the MLS won’t be too surprised by the business as Almiron has been a key player in Atlanta’s impressive MLS cup win. He’s pacey with the ball and can beat a defender, although his shooting leaves a lot to be desired. If Rafa can improve Almiron’s weak foot a little than Almiron will be an exciting fantasy Premier League player. Newcastle might be an unsettling place for a young Paraguayan player to come to so perhaps we should temper our immediate expectations. Benitez is a professional though so I would expect to see Almiron making a difference at some point this season. Almiron is a good pick up from the Premier League transfer wire in deeper leagues.
5. Peter Crouch – Forward – Burnley – 0% Owned
Ah, Crouchy! Is there a more endearing player in English football than Peter Crouch. What can I say that hasn’t been said before, he’s lanky, does a good robot and has a ‘good touch for a big man’. Crouch will be returning to the Premier League with Sean Dyche’s Burnley, and we couldn’t be happier. At 38, Crouch won’t get too many minutes in the Premier League, more likely he will be used as an ‘impact sub’. He won’t have too much value and is more of a nostalgic, novelty pick up from the Premier League Transfer Wire.
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