Andrea
Belloti (Torino > Manchester Utd or Chelsea)
The 23 year old Italian
forward has been touted as a future star in recent times after bursting onto
the scene with Torino in the 16/17 campaign, registering a staggering 26 goals
and 7 assists. Belloti’s scoring prowess accounted for 37% of his team’s
seasonal goals. This has sparked the interest of both Manchester United and
Chelsea who are looking to transfer in new centre forwards to their squads. For
FPL managers, the signing of Belloti to either premier league powerhouse could
spell golden points returns. However, the price tag placed on the young
forward’s transfer by Torino (£84million) has halted Man Utd’s push, allowing
Chelsea to swoop, should the sale of Diego Costa manifest. FPL managers would
be silly not to select Belloti in their squads if his transfer occurs, as he
registered 3.8 shots on target per 90mins in the last Serie A season, along
with 1.1 successful take-ons per game and a key pass every 56.2 minutes.
Additionally, Belloti was fouled on average 3.6 times per game. This proves
that Belloti is an active forward that gets on the ball and takes
responsibility for his positional role. Belloti could be a bargain pick up in
comparison to his forward counterparts.
Predicted FPL Price: £8.5-9.0 Potential Team
Influence Rating: 7/10
Hakan
Ҫalhanoğlu
(Bayer Leverkusen > Arsenal)
Ҫalhanoğlu has been a dynamic player
for many consecutive seasons in the Bundesliga. However, season 16/17 wasn’t
the Turk’s best season to note of, having only managed 15 league appearances
over the course of the entire campaign. Although he had low appearance numbers,
Ҫalhanoğlu doubled his scoring
output from the previous season, snapping up 6 goals. With limited minutes and
Leverkusen finishing below mid-table, the Turkish international has been linked
with a move away, with Arsenal currently leading the race for his signature.
With his wizardry dribbling and excellent long-shooting in addition to his
majestic free-kick ability, Ҫalhanoğlu has the potential to thrive in the
Premier League – especially with an Arsenal side that loves to possess the
ball. The interchangeable midfielder and often make-shift centre-forward could
spell good news for FPL managers wanting an Arsenal player in their squad when
they have a good run of fixtures but can’t afford Alexis Sánchez (should he
stay) and have given up putting faith in Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil. The
crafty playmaker was instrumental when he played in the Bundesliga last term
having a shot every 25.7 minutes and orchestrating a shot assist every 42.8
minutes making him one of the most influential players in the Bundesliga. If
this form transfers over to the Premier League, along with him being a
certainty to be placed on set-piece duty, FPL managers are in for a treat.
Predicted FPL Price:
£7.5-8.0 Potential
Team Influence Rating: 7.5/10
Álvaro
Morata (Real Madrid > Manchester United)
What can you say about
Morata besides the fact that he loves playing for big clubs. The young Spaniard
has been an above average striker for the better part of 4 years but has never
been entrusted to lead the team he has been playing for, often playing second
fiddle to other big names like Karim Benzema. If a move to the Red Devils comes
to fruition, it is likely that he will slot straight into the void left by
Zlatan Ibrahimović at the spearhead of United’s attack. With a regular starting
spot Morata could work wonders for FPL managers, as it would provide more depth
in the striking position for squad selections. At almost a certainty to be a
cheaper price than most other strikers (Kane, Aguero, Lukaku, Costa), Morata
possesses the ability to score and create just as much offensively as his
counterparts. Scoring 15 goals for Madrid in season 16/17 after only featuring
in 14 games from the opening whistle and a further 12 from the bench, Morata
knows how to find the back of the net. He is a very efficient scorer, only
having on average 2.1 shots per game, but 1.8 are from inside the box, meaning
he is a true out and out striker with exceptional poaching skills and aerial
prowess. These are all good skills to be a successful FPL point’s scorer which
is what FPL managers want. WFC believes that if Morata is in the Premier League
this upcoming season it is highly probable that he will break the 20 goal
barrier, however, a lot of his goals will come from crosses and balls played
into him – not maze dribbling self-constructed goals, meaning with Morata’s
acquisition the potential of Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan and Martials points
returns also increase.
Predicted FPL Price:
£9.5-10 Potential
Team Influence Rating: 8.5/10
Mohamed
Salah (Roma > Liverpool)
Since leaving Stamford
Bridge and moving to the Serie A with Roma, Salah has come on in leaps and
bounds. This has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, with the Egyptian almost
certain for a return to the Premier League. For FPL managers, the transfer of
Salah back to the Premier League might not sound to enticing after his first
stint with Chelsea that promised so much but delivered so little, after never
truly breaking into the team as a nailed on starter. For the past 2 and half
seasons in the Serie A (on loan and permanent transfers), Salah has scored 35
goals in 81 total appearances. Season 16/17 was Salah’s most productive and
effective to date in his career, amassing 15 goals, 11 assists and winning man
of the match on 4 separate occasions in the league. At 25 years old, Salah is
moving into the prime of his career and a move to Liverpool could spark him to
jump to another level in ability. For FPL managers looking for attacking
options, Salah could provide another handy option, as joining Liverpool would mean
he is moving into a well-developed attacking force that scores a lot of goals
that come from direct assists. Salah’s 2.9 shots and 2.6 key passes per game
ranks him higher than current Liverpool players in comparable positions, Sadio
Manè for Shots (2.1) and Coutinho for key passes (2.5) who both had similar
amounts of league appearances – Salah (31), Manè (27), Coutinho (31). If
Salah’s Serie A output can be replicated he could level or even eclipse to FPL
points tallies registered by Manè or Coutinho in the past season. Re-entrusting
Salah could be a worthy FPL consideration.
Predicted FPL Price:
£8.0-8.5 Potential
Team Influence Rating: 7/10
By Luke Scali – Twitter (@WFC_LS_Potzi) via Worldwide Fantasy Club - Twitter (@WFC_17)
