Player Focus: Five Premier League Fantasy Football Tips to Consider

With three weeks to go before the return of the Premier League, now is very much the time to be setting out the initial plans for your fantasy football teams, with plenty of newcomers to the league to consider.

Here are a handful of summer signings ahead of the upcoming campaign that could represent good business and help give you an edge over your competition.

Yohan Cabaye

After what could arguably be considered the coup of the transfer window so far, Yohan Cabaye will be hoping to put a disappointing spell back in France behind him having been reunited with Alan Pardew at Palace. Likely to be given something of a free role, with the likes of Jedinak, McArthur and Ledley able to do the dirty work in midfield, Cabaye will hope to recapture the form he showed in a more advanced position for Newcastle ahead of his move to PSG.

The 29-year old scored 7 times in the first half of the 2013/14 season with the Magpies before his January departure and had a direct hand in 27 goals (17 goals, 10 assists) in 79 league appearances for the club. His WhoScored.com rating of 7.48 in his last season in the North East was enough to rank 10th in the entire division that year.

Jeremain Lens

The signing of Dutch international Lens represents intelligent business from Sunderland, adding electric pace, which was lacking last season, along with a goal threat from wide areas. The winger failed to replicate his best form after a move to Dynamo Kyiv but did manage to score 5 goals in two Europa League campaigns for the club. With 1.6 dribbles and 1.6 key passes per game in the competition in 2014/15, Lens played an important role in helping the Ukrainian outfit to the quarter-finals.

Having amassed a decent amount of European experience both at domestic and international level, Lens will have surprised many by agreeing to a switch to Wearside, with Dick Advocaat playing a crucial role in his arrival. With the ability to both provide and score goals from the flanks - netting 15 times in his final season in the Eredivisie - the 27-year-old has the potential to pick up plenty of points.

Georginio Wijnaldum

With goals proving to be the holy grail in fantasy football, perhaps even more so than in reality, a midfielder that can weigh in with a health tally is always on the wish list. That was certainly the case for Newcastle, who failed to adequately replace the aforementioned Cabaye last summer, and the Magpies acted fast to secure the services of PSV captain Georginio Wijnaldum this time around. Despite a significant outlay on the Dutch international, Steve McLaren may have a real gem on his hands.

Constantly looking to pick up goalscoring positions and make intelligent runs into the box, Wijnaldum racked up 14 goals for a WhoScored rating of 7.47 for Eredivisie champions PSV last season. Provided he has the security behind him to pick up pockets of space in advanced areas - with the likes of Colback and Tiote providing ample defensive cover - the Dutchman should flourish on Tyneside.

Roberto Firmino

After a big money deal to join Liverpool having been linked with a host of Europe's elite this summer, big things are expected of Roberto Firmino at Anfield. It's fair to say he has all of the attributes to live up to those expectations and is likely to be given a creative license in front of an industrious midfield under Brendan Rodgers next season.

The Brazilian's finishing isn't actually a strength of his, requiring 95 shots to score a modest 7 goals last season, but with a further 10 assists he has the ability to score highly on any fantasy football platform. A WhoScored rating of 7.79 was enough to rank third in the Bundesliga in 2014/15 and with Liverpool set to add more firepower to their ranks with the signing of Christian Benteke, Firmino should have more than enough chances to extend both his goal and assist tallies from last year.

Memphis Depay

Sealing a deal for Memphis Depay back in May in order to avoid a bidding war this summer, Manchester United secured the services of one of Europe's hottest prospects in the process. The young forward should be a fantasy football dream given his confidence in his own ability. Depay averaged a whopping 5.4 shots per game last season for a highly commendable 22-goal tally for Eredivisie champions PSV.

The fact that he is just 21 yet is the top scorer in Dutch football since the start of the 2013/14 season, with 34 goals, is testament to his talents. With a further 12 assists over the last two seasons he's more than capable of creating chances as well as scoring them and is tipped to play a starring role under compatriot Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford next season.

Which new signings will make your fantasy football team ahead of the new season? Let us know in the comments below