Which recent transfers and gossip will interest FPL managers?
We catch up with some recently completed transfers (as of June 16th) and general gossip, asking which could make an impact on the FPL scene.
Following the media’s many transfer rumours can be tiresome. The majority either fall through or have been tactically planted by one of the parties involved. Yet those that do come to fruition can have a huge effect on a range of Fantasy games.
Here are a few of the more interesting rumours and completed deals from the last few days, using reputable sources.
NOTABLE FPL TRANSFERS AND GOSSIP
DONE DEALS:
- Matheus Cunha (Wolves to Man United, £62.5m)
- Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen to Liverpool, £29.5m)
- Rayan Cherki (Lyon to Man City, £34m)
- Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves to Man City, £31m)
- Tijani Reijnders (AC Milan to Man City, £46.5m)
- Liam Delap (Ipswich to Chelsea, £30m)
- Adrien Truffert (Rennes to Bournemouth, £11.4m)
- Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool to Brentford, £12.5m)
- Charalampos Kostoulas (Olympiakos to Brighton, £29.8m)
- Lukas Nmecha (Wolfsburg to Leeds, free)
So far, almost all completed transfers have been about meeting release clauses, adding names before the Club World Cup or making loan moves permanent. The latter keeps Mathys Tel, Carlos Alcaraz, Kevin Danso, Michael Kayode and Jean-Clair Todibo permanently at their 2024/25 clubs.
Newly-promoted Leeds have pounced upon the contract expiry of centre-forward Lukas Nmecha, a German international who’d played for England up to Under-21 level.
- READ MORE: Frimpong a potential top pick
Meanwhile, Liverpool have replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong in part one of their Leverkusen shopping trip. Someone comfortable at both right-back and right-wing, his last three seasons have included a massive 63 attacking returns (in all competitions).
But there’s even more FPL anticipation for teammate Florian Wirtz, once the big-money coup is finally wrapped up. Joining them at Anfield should be Milos Kerkez, now that Bournemouth’s capture of Adrien Truffert is official.
Sticking with attacking full-backs, Man City have signed two Rayans so far. Ait-Nouri could therefore force FPL’s top-scoring 2024/25 defender, Josko Gvardiol, to play centrally. As well as the Algerian, they’ve bought Cherki and potential bargain Tijani Reijnders.
Elsewhere, Chelsea won the race for Liam Delap, only to seemingly remain in the market for a striker. That will dampen Delap’s Fantasy appeal. But expect Matheus Cunha to start with a large ownership due to Man United’s worldwide fanbase. He’s placed faith in Ruben Amorim’s big rebuild, and there’ll be true excitement if he gets reclassified as an FPL midfielder.
Between the sticks, Caoimhin Kelleher might become the £4.5m goalkeeper of choice, should that be his initial price.
RUMOURED:
- Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen to Liverpool)
- Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth to Liverpool)
- Fer Lopez (Celta to Wolves)
- Joao Pedro (Brighton to Newcastle)
- Anthony Elanga (Nott’m Forest to Newcastle)
- James Trafford (Burnley to Newcastle)
- Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford to Man United or Tottenham)
- Hugo Ekitike (Frankfurt to Man United or Chelsea)
- Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP to Arsenal)
- Benjamin Sesko (Leipzig to Arsenal)
At the time of writing, neither Wirtz nor Kerkez are 100% completed, so they can’t be included above. Both deals are on the verge, though.
Chelsea aren’t the only big side competing for centre-forwards. Arsenal keep being linked with both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres – whoever they purchase will be extremely appealing.
Reports claim the Sporting CP star has rejected Man United, who are supposedly fighting several battles. Hugo Ekitike is one of them, but Bryan Mbeumo could instead choose to link up with Thomas Frank at Tottenham.
The right-sided Brentford attacker rejected Newcastle, so the Magpies now want at least one of Joao Pedro and Anthony Elanga. We know that Eddie Howe prefers domestic purchases and there’s also a long-held interest in James Trafford, the goalkeeper who helped Burnley keep 30 Championship clean sheets. These will add options and crucial depth to the Magpies – words not liked by FPL managers.
Finally, Fer Lopez could be one of Wolves’ Cunha replacements, repeating last summer’s Jorgen Strand Larsen move. Celta Vigo’s wideman only scored twice in his breakthrough La Liga seasons but boasts some impressive underlying statistics.
