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With the Euros out of the way and the transfer window officially open for business on July 1, we've have a rash of transfers in and out of Premier League clubs. There hasn't been that much that rates a post of its own, but we definitely need to be aware of some of these new (or moved) fantasy options.
Brett Holman wants to make mark at Aston Villa | Mail Online
Midfielder Holman will link up with Villa next week when they report back for pre-season training after signing a pre-contract agreement in March while still a player with AZ Alkmaar.
AFP: Villa sign El Ahmadi from Feyernoord
Aston Villa have signed midfielder Karim El Ahmadi from Dutch side Feyenoord on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, the English Premier League club announced Monday.
Villa confirm Lowton signing - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News, Results and Fixtures
Aston Villa have completed the signing of Sheffield United right-back Matt Lowton... [who] will provide competition for last season's first choice right-back, Alan Hutton, and deputy Eric Lichaj.
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VIlla are adding to what was (and is) a very thin, and ineffective squad. Holman is interesting for fantasy. He was signed by McLeish and now has to prove himself to Paul Lambert. Presumably he can play as a lead striker, or just behind a player like Darren Bent. Last season Lambert showed a propensity to chop and change his roster, especially his forwards, but if Holman and Bent (when healthy again) can forge a partnership, Villa will seem a lot less hopeless very quickly.
Everton sign former Rangers striker Steven Naismith - Telegraph
"We are delighted that Steven has agreed to join us," said the Scot. "He will be an excellent addition to the players we already have and we look forward to him being fit and ready to play at the start of the season. "He is an established international who can play in a number of positions. "He has a flexibility we always like in our players and which will hopefully prove to be very useful for us."
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A verstaile Scottish forward comes to Everton. Haven't we seen this movie before? This could certainly be a good move for the club, but I just don't see Naismith becoming a week-in-week-out fantasy option.
Fulham
Fulham Sign Riether
Fulham Football Club is delighted to announce the season-long loan signing of [right-back] Sascha Riether from FC Cologne with an option to acquire the player at the end of the loan period.
Fulham complete signing of Croatia forward Mladen Petric | Football | guardian.co.uk
Fulham have completed the signing of the Croatia forward Mladen Petric
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Fulham always seem to provide fantasy value. Granted, you normally don't want to bet on them when they are the visiting team. At home, however, they were strong and scored almost as many goals as Arsenal and Spurs. With Pogrebnyak (Reading) and Andy Johnson (QPR) moving on, and Clint Dempsey interested in a move away, Fulham needed strikers. Petric has a good pedigree from the Bundesliga, though he's presumably past his prime.
At the back, Fulham have always provided fantasy value from right back, be it John Paintsil (Pantsil), Chris Baird, or even sometimes Stephen Kelly. Now German Sascha Riether, who has played some midfield, will look to continue that legacy. Depending on Fulham's schedule, I definitely think he's one to watch.
Norwich
Norwich City sign Rangers defender Steven Whittaker - ESPN Soccernet
Norwich have signed Rangers and Scotland defender Steven Whittaker on a four-year deal... He becomes Chris Hughton's first signing for Norwich, and the Canaries manager told the club's official website: "In Steven we have a player who can play anywhere across the back four and anywhere across midfield, so there's plenty of versatility there.
Park Ji-Sung set for £5 million QPR move - ESPN Soccernet
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung is set to complete a £5 million switch to Queens Park Rangers, reports suggest.
Andy Johnson signs for QPR | Mail Online
Andy Johnson has completed his free transfer to Queens Park Rangers from Fulham. The former England international has signed a two-year deal.
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The Park Ji-Sung move is probably the most interesting, if only because it came so out of the blue. I wonder what his best position is, and if he might become a fantasy option given a starting role. His best moments for United came as an auxiliary forward - though sometimes he was played there to mark Andre Pirlo, and most recently he came up very, very short in that role.
Reading
Reading snap up free agent Danny Guthrie - ESPN Soccernet
Reading have announced the signing of midfielder Danny Guthrie on a three-year deal. Danny Guthrie is mobbed after giving Newcastle the lead at Fulham. Guthrie, who was a free agent after leaving Newcastle United at the end of last season, passed his medical with Reading on Friday and will formally complete the move on Sunday.
Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak completes move to Reading | Football | guardian.co.uk
Reading have completed the signing of the Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak on a four-year contract after he was granted a work permit. The 28-year-old joins the Premier League newcomers on a free transfer with Reading his second club in England following a spell with Fulham last season.
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Who is Pogrebnyak? Is he the predator who scored five goals in three matches, including a hat-trick against Wolves, or the player who struggled with injury through the rest of the campaign and only scored once more? The jury is out, but he'll be wearing hoops as we try to figure it out this season.
Southampton
Southampton | News | Latest News | Latest News | Saints Sign Steven Davis
The Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis has signed a three year contract with Saints. The midfielder becomes Saints' second summer signing following on from the arrival of striker Jay Rodriguez last month. Davis is a player with a vast top flight experience having previously played for both Fulham and Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League, before becoming captain of Scottish giants Rangers.
Saints strike Buttner deal - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News, Results and Fixtures
Southampton have agreed a deal with Vitesse Arnhem to sign defender Alexander Buttner, the Dutch club have announced.
BBC Sport - Jay Rodriguez completes Southampton move from Burnley
Southampton complete the signing of Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez on a four-year deal for a reported fee of around £7m... Southampton were the only club to meet Burnley's valuation for the youngster, who had a year left on his contract and scored 21 goals last season.
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Southampton rounding out their squad. It's always hard to bet on promoted players, but some always become fantasy mainstays. This year the money is on the Saints' Ricky Lambert, but it's always nice to have defensive options coming into the League.
Gyan completes Al-Ain switch | News
Asamoah Gyan's flirtation with English football came to an end on Friday when he completed a permanent move from Sunderland to Al-Ain. The 26-year-old Ghana international, who signed a four-year deal when he arrived at the Stadium of Light in August 2010, left for the United Arab Emirates having managed a little more than one season on Wearside. Gyan spent most of last season on loan to the UAE club and has now committed his long-term future to them by signing a four-year deal.
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Finally, news that will surprise no one. Gyan was fun in his time with Sunderland, but I think in Sessegnon they've replaced him on the pitch.