This is a summer signing that tears up the landscape of fantasy football a fair bit. Not only a bonafide goal machine in the making but his presence in the Swan's line-up is going to seriously dampen Michu's output, last season's star fantasy performer.
Wilfred Bony, a £12m signing for Swansea, is 24 years old and was one of the highest scoring players in all of Europe last season. 31 goals in 30 games for Vitesse in 2012/13 supplements a career total of 84 goals in 160 games.
He has pace and power, and can be compared physically to compatriot Didier Drogba. A lethal finisher, his game style favours a close passing game and Swansea's style will suit him down to the ground.
Swanse's opening 3 fixtures are a little unkind but by GW4 they pick up and a FPL price tag of around £7.5M would probably see him in our team from the off, in fact we dreamt about him earlier today! He'll also bring out some real assist potential for any under-valued and overlooked Swansea midfielder - De Guzman's corner's and set pieces could be given a real boost by Bony's presence in the box.
2013/14 is going to be a blinder.
Here's a quick run down on Swansea's signing of Jonjo Shelvey and Crystal Palace's acquisition of Dwight Gayle and what they could mean for your Fantasy Premier League (FPL) team.
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Potential in Youth
Both are young players, 21-22 years old, so both have potential for their new clubs. Shelvey has represent England U21's plenty and Gayle started his career as an Arsenal youth prospect but as he wasn't French had to work his way back up from the lower leagues. Their potential for FPL comes with them both expected to be mid-low priced fantasy players.
Forward Instincts
Both players are also attacking players, indeed Gayle is a striker. Shelvey was utilised by Liverpool in the hole behind the centre forward at times although is perhaps better suited to a more involved central midfield role with license to get forward.
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Attacking Stats
Take this with a pinch of salt but Dwight Gayle's record is promising. Last season he scored 13 goals in 28 games in the Championship for relegated Peterborough. His shot accuracy was a mighty 60% and whilst this is by no means a sure fire sign he'll score in the Premier League it is a sign he knows where the target is (read - potential).
Shelvey goalscoring record is poor at the top level. He scored just twice in 33 appearances for Liverpool over two seasons although he had plenty of chances. On the upside his record outside the Premier League including U21 duty is 23 goals in 81 games and his shot accuracy over his whole career is around 40% which is respectable for a midfielder.
Game Time & Position
This is the critical factor then, as both players have the potential, but Gayle has the clear edge in this respect. We mentioned yesterday how Palace were an attacking team but needed a striker. Now they've got one you'd expect them to play him, albeit throwing him in the deep end. If he can handle that he could be a great fantasy asset in the £5-6m price bracket.
As for Shelvey, we struggle to see how he'll fit into Swansea's line-up and is competing with Michu, De Guzman and Hernandez for attacking midfield spots. We expect his game time will come from a deeper position where his passing and vision will boost Swanea's play but seriously dampen his fantasy worth.
VERDICT
Gayle - HIT
Shelvey - MISS
