Fantasy Football Potential – Phil Bardsley

Burnley have added right back Phil Bardsley to their defensive options from Stoke. The 32 year old joins the Clarets for an undisclosed fee after falling out of favour at the Potters. Bardsley joins former Stoke team mate Jonathan Walters who joined earlier in the window.

Phil Bardsley played just 15 times last season in the Premier League, due to the fact that Stoke manager Mark Hughes prefers Glen Johnson over him. He claimed one goal against Stevenage in the EFL Cup, but his last game for Stoke would see him sent off in a 2-1 loss to Chelsea at the Bet365 stadium.

Here’s what Sean Dyche said about the new signing:

“Phil brings experience. He knows the division and his way around it and he knows there’s a real competitive element to the squad and he’ll have to earn the right to play”

Fantasy Football Potential

The Scotsman is priced at 4.5m which is the same as fellow right back Matt Lowton. Despite having over 200 Premier League appearances under his belt I believe Lowton will be given the nod ahead of Bardsley.

Also there are better options for a defender priced at 4.5m such as Burnley compatriot, Ben Mee who is owned by an impressive 11.8%. In comparison Phil Bardsley is owned by 0.1% and may have been bought by Burnley for experience in the dressing room.

Burnley’s opening fixtures are as follows: Chelsea (A), West Brom (H), Tottenham (A), Crystal Palace (H) and Manchester United (A). These fixtures look difficult but Bardsley (or any other Burnley player) could be used in a rotation strategy to salvage these poor looking fixtures.

If you have enjoyed this view of the fantasy potential of those moving teams this transfer window, be sure to check the others here.

Written by Harry Clark (@HarryClark67)

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