The international break always brings disruption for Fantasy Premier League managers via injuries, form changes and plenty of speculation. But this time, the focus isn’t as much on the pitch but rather on a flurry of late transfer signings that could have profound effects for our FPL teams.

But how do these movers affect FPL strategy? Are some of the faces that switched clubs worth jumping on early, or should we bide our time and reassess once they’re settled?

Here’s a look at the most exciting moves, their immediate prospects, and how they might impact your FPL decisions.

Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, Newcastle United

Newcastle have bolstered their attack with the arrivals of Yoane Wissa (£7.5m) from Brentford and Nick Woltemade (£7.0m) from Stuttgart. Both bring quality and depth, but there are immediate questions around fitness, minutes, and how quickly they’ll adapt to Eddie Howe’s system.

Wissa is the more FPL-relevant of the two: he scored 18 goals and recorded six assists for Brentford last season, and has already shown sharpness on international duty, with two goals and an assist for DR Congo. He played 62 minutes in the first World Cup qualifier against Sudan and 74 minutes against Senegal.

However, Howe revealed on Friday morning that his chances of a Gameweek 4 debut have been wrecked by a knee injury he picked up during his time with DR Congo, with the 29-year-old set for a scan to assess the extent of the problem.

Woltemade, meanwhile, is a versatile forward capable of playing centrally, as a second striker, or out wide. While his dynamism could be useful, it feels unlikely he’ll be Newcastle’s first-choice No 9 ahead of Wissa.

He would have been expected to be introduced gradually from the bench and could play in behind or on either flank, although Wissa’s injury enhances his chances of a debut this weekend.

If you want to gamble on Newcastle’s nice run of fixtures — they play Wolves (H), Bournemouth (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Fulham (H) and West Ham (A) in their next seven — then the upside is there with a somewhat risky move for Woltemade.

Alexander Isak, Liverpool

After months of speculation, Alexander Isak’s (£10.4m) move to Liverpool was finally confirmed on September 1. From an FPL perspective, his arrival creates excitement, but also uncertainty.

Isak hasn’t played a competitive match in the league this season. For Sweden, during the international break, he didn’t feature in the first World Cup qualifier against Slovenia and only got 19 minutes against Kosovo on September 8. It would be a surprise if Arne Slot started him straight away against Burnley in Gameweek 4.

Once fit, though, he’s almost guaranteed to be Liverpool’s first-choice striker, and this has implications for Liverpool’s current FPL assets. Hugo Ekitike (£8.8m) and Cody Gakpo (£7.7m) are now major minutes risks, likely rotating for the left-wing spot. If you own either, you can probably give them the Burnley game before looking to move them on.

Isak is a ‘wait and see’ for now. I cannot see him starting right away but once fit, he could be a gamechanger and one of the most important forward picks in the game. We could possibly look at him for Everton (H) in Gameweek 5, depending on how many minutes he gets against Burnley this weekend.

Eberechi Eze, Arsenal

Eberechi Eze’s (£7.5m) move to Arsenal might have a knock-on effect for our FPL teams. At Palace, he was the talisman: he took penalties, free kicks, and was the most creative player. At Arsenal, he’ll lose penalties and likely take fewer set pieces. That naturally dents his FPL appeal.

But there’s an upside. Surrounded by world-class talent, he’ll play in a far better attacking team, meaning he could match or even exceed his Palace output simply through volume of chances and better finishers in his new team.

At £7.5m, Eze still represents value if he secures regular minutes. Although Arsenal have a nice fixture at home to Nottingham Forest this weekend, they play Manchester City (H) and Newcastle (A) straight after. Their run turns favourable from Gameweek 7, where they come up against West Ham (H), Fulham (A), Crystal Palace (H), Burnley (A) and Sunderland (A).

Eze is another ‘wait and see’ for me. The next few games give us time to assess his role and minutes. Despite him losing some routes to points, I still think he can be a great FPL option. He’s most definitely one to watch from Gameweek 7 onwards.

The exciting new FPL options

Beyond the headline transfers we’ve already explored, several other arrivals could make waves in FPL.

Xavi Simons (£7.0m) looks a promising option. At RB Leipzig, he registered 10 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season. Simons is a creative force who has plenty of goal threat too.

If Thomas Frank gives him freedom in Tottenham Hotspur’s setup, he could be a superb differential option. I can’t see him being anything but first choice and he won’t get a better run of fixtures to land on: Spurs play West Ham (A), Brighton (A), Wolves (H), Leeds United (A) and Aston Villa (H) next. If you are looking for a mid-priced midfielder or are on a wildcard this week, I think Simons is a great punt.

Aston Villa’s loan signings Harvey Elliott (£5.4m) and Jadon Sancho (£5.9m) might end up being some really shrewd signings. Elliott, in particular, could be impressive value at his price. He never really got a chance at a prolonged playing period at Liverpool but he will no doubt get it at Villa. He has goals and assists in him: he managed three goals and nine assists for Liverpool in the 2023-24 season in only 11 starts.

Elliott has joined Villa on loan from Liverpool (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Sancho hasn’t really delivered since his 2021 arrival in the Premier League from Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 53 goals and 67 assists. There is clearly a great player in there and I think he will also come in as a first-choice option for Unai Emery.

I think the secondary effect these two will have on Villa and their assets could be more profound. Emery’s side have failed to score in the opening three games and clearly need a bit of creative spark, which these two could provide.

As an Ollie Watkins (£8.9m) owner, I am quietly confident that this will also bolster his chances of returns. Their next four fixtures are good too, as they play Everton (A), Sunderland (A), Fulham (H) and Burnley (H).

Elliott looks like the safer pick as he is a bit more proven in this league and also comes at a budget price, making him a nice enabler. But perhaps wait until the Everton game to gauge his minutes, as jumping on for Sunderland, Fulham and Burnley looks the safer route.

(Top photo: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)