Here’s the fantasy premier league news update for January 30 2013 including Ballotelli, Benitez, Defoe, Vorm, transfer news and price rises/falls. 

Headlines in italics are taken from the Daily Mail in order to make this a more efficent process

Balotelli

Roberto Mancini admitted being ‘so sad’ to lose Mario Balotelli after the striker’s colourful and often chaotic career in English football ended with a £19.5million move to AC Milan.

Fantasy premier league managers certainly wont miss him as all he did was provide a rotation  cover for some of the easier games when you wanted your City striker on the pitch.  Good news especially for fantasy premier league owners Dzeko who was the person he naturally rotated with.  However last nights decision to play Tevez and Aguero was a surprise and meant that there was no pattern to deduce who is more likely to play in the future.  If you cant go for Aguero then any purchase at the moment is a gamble.  Personally I would go for Dzeko as he’s cheaper and is a proven performer as a substitute.

Benitez

Roman Abramovich has written off Chelsea’s chances of winning silverware this season and told Rafa Benitez to finish in the top four. Benitez

‘All I can say is what I know. I have had meetings. We were talking about the situation and it’s clear for me the priority is the top four and progressing as much as we can in the other competitions.

This has to be good news for fantasy premier league owners of Ba and Mata as this focus will surely see them play more in fantasy premier league rather than the Europa league (Ba is cup tied anyway) and the FA Cup.

Defoe

Tottenham are using the once controversial blood-spinning recovery technique in an attempt to save Jermain Defoe’s season.

Supposedly playing tonight at Norwich.  With Defoes stats being diminished when Adebayor (returning in a couple of weeks from ACON) is on the pitch and with these injury concern I wouldn’t be buying Defoe at the moment.  Bale is definitely my Spurs coverage of choice

Vorm

Missed out with a minor knee injury according to the Swans official site.  No return date on physio room so not really a reason for fantasy premier league managers to pile in to cheapie Tremmell as Vorm is clearly the better and first choice keeper

Transfer news and speculation

I wouldn’t make any further transfers until the window shuts after the 31st.  Here’s a few potential things flying around

• David Villa to Arsenal – just wont die and would undermine Walcotts advanced position in my view 
• GK Robinson to West Ham – Jaas would be under threat.  He’s overpriced anyway in my mind
• QPR to buy Crouch – Harry has a long relationship.  I don’t think it would undermine Remy who Harry will have to keep faith with its just a plan B
•  Samba to QPR – With Nelsen and Ferdinand gone he would walk straight in next to Hill

Price rises and falls

Price rises – just 3

Lampard – too rotatable although with Luiz injured and Hazard banned may get a short term enforced run.

Mata and Silva – both are buys for me

Price falls

Friedel 4.8

Sagna ARS 5.1
Luiz CHE 6.6
Evans J MUN 5.6
Shorey RDG 3.9

Hazard 9.3

Davis 4.5

Most are related to injuries, bans or loaing their place  although the Sagna one is a little hard to figure given he’s the cheapest Arsenal defender

Thats it remember i would leave transfers until the window shuts