We are getting to the business end of the 2021-22 Premier League season, and we are in for a grandstand finish, with the title race, the battle for European qualification, and the relegation fight all still wide open. Still, for many Fantasy Football players, their season is dead in the water and they have no chance of winning their league against friends and co-workers. So, for those who already have an eye on next season, we are looking at potential arrivals in the summer that could be must picks for their fantasy teams next season. With Premier League clubs ready to spend big after some down years thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer window this summer is set to be a huge one. Fantasy Premier League has been growing in popularity in the UK as an alternative way to up the stakes when watching, but more akin to free bets in the UK rather than wagering money. So here is your way too early summer 2022 transfer window preview, and how these potential incomings could propel your Fantasy team to glory next year.

Erling Haaland

The Erling Haaland transfer saga is one that fans from all of Europe’s elite clubs will have a keen eye on. It’s not very often that one of the world’s best centre forwards is available at a relatively low price considering their ability, but thanks to Borussia Dortmund’s release clause of €75m (£62.7m) for Haaland, that is absolutely the case. Moreover, at the age of just 21 he still has room to improve, and will be a valuable asset to whichever team he goes to for a long, long time. The Norwegian’s record speaks for itself – the man just loves scoring goals. He’s scored 16 goals in 17 Bundesliga appearances this season, backing up his 27 goals in just 28 league games last season. He’s already the finished product at such a young age, and it’s scary to think just how good he could become.

Much of the talk around Haaland’s next club has revolved around Manchester City. There is no doubt that they are in desperate need for a striker, and they won’t have any issues getting the funds together to secure his signature. Additionally, there’s the sentimental link to the club, given Haaland’s father Alf Inge, who now serves as his agent, played for City between 2000 and 2003. With Kylian Mbappe seemingly destined for Real Madrid, and Barcelona’s finances still up in the air, it seems as if City are the obvious front runners to win the Haaland stakes. If that were to happen, he should be an absolute Fantasy Football pickup. His goal scoring record is absurd, and if he were to be lining up alongside the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling as well as being under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, who knows how many goals Haaland would score.

Paulo Dybala

The recent news that Paulo Dybala is set to become a free agent in the summer having decided not to stay at Juventus is huge. Juventus CEO Maurizio Arrivabene recently confirmed that Dybala would indeed be leaving Turin in the summer, ending a seven-year stint with the club. The opportunity to pick up such an exciting player for free doesn’t come around often, and it is certain that Premier League clubs will be sniffing around for the Argentinian. The 28-year-old has 19 direct goal involvements in 29 appearances in all competitions this campaign and would be a valuable addition to any team looking to boost their creativity.

The early favourites to sign Dybala are Tottenham Hotspur. This is due in part to Spurs’ Managing Director Fabio Paratici’s links to Dybala. During his time at Juventus, Paratici became famous for his love of free transfers, and he knows the player well. Dybala has also been linked to Spurs in the past, and according to reports, nearly joined them two summers ago. If Antonio Conte decides to stay in north London, Dybala could be swayed by playing for the Italian. There is no doubt Dybala will be in contact with Spurs new boys Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur to see if he believes it is a good fit. Given the fact he would improve almost any team in the world, don’t count out Manchester United, Arsenal or even Newcastle to fight for Dybala’s signature though, as well as some of Europe’s elite teams. If he were to join an English side, he would be a valuable Fantasy Football asset, due to his large volume of assists at his time in Italy, as well as the ability to chip in with a useful goal tally every season.

Darwin Nunez

Darwin Nunez doesn’t have the big name profile of the other two players on this list, but at the age of just 22, the future looks bright for the Uruguayan. The centre forward has scored 20 goals in 22 league appearances for Portuguese side Benfica this season, and has impressed in the Champions League run to the quarter finals. It seems as if he has outgrown the Portuguese league, and he is destined for a move away in the summer.

West Ham were reportedly close to reaching an agreement to sign him in January, but couldn’t agree on a figure, and according to reports coming out of Uruguay, Benfica are asking for £67m to sign him this summer. With Michail Antonio as their only recognised striker, it is clear West Ham need to sign someone to lighten the load on the 31-year-old, and Nunez fits the bill. Arsenal are also reportedly very interested in signing him as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette, and he would fit in with their transfer strategy of signing young, exciting talent. It’s always hard to tell how a player who has dominated in a lower standard of league will perform in the Premier League, but given how Luis Diaz has taken so quickly to life at Liverpool having joined from Porto in January, it is expected Nunez would be just fine if he were to come to England, and would be a valuable Fantasy asset from week one.