Fantasy Premier League managers are putting the final touches on their teams ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Gabriel, Bruno Fernandes and Erling Haaland were the best-scoring defender, midfielder and forward in the game last year, as the three all cleared 200 points.
As such, the trio have received hefty price hikes heading into the 2026/27 season, jumping by a combined £6.5m to a total of £34.5m, taking up more than a third of managers' entire budgets.
Squeezing all three in requires lots of sacrifices to be made elsewhere, with most managers omitting one or even two, trying to build a more balanced squad.
Haaland is currently owned by a whopping 75% of managers, suggesting his record price of £15.5m isn't putting people off. But can competitive squads be created without any of Haaland, Fernandes or Gabriel?
We've put together a team for managers looking for something a little different ahead of the 2026/27 season.
GK - David Raya - £6.0m (ARS)
The only £6.0m goalkeeper in the game, David Raya's haul of 162 points last season was 19 better than next-best Caoimhin Kelleher and 26 better than Robin Roefs.
Coventry at home might be a perfect start for the Spanish stopper.
DEF - Harry Maguire - £5.0m (MUN)
With Matthijs de Ligt still injured and Lisandro Martinez not expected to be fit after his World Cup exploits, Harry Maguire should start in the heart of Manchester United's defence.
An aerial threat, Maguire recorded more than eight defensive contributions per 90 last season and with opening fixtures against Hull (A) and Ipswich (H), the centre back looks a safe early pick.
DEF - Cristhian Mosquera - £5.5m (ARS)
The injury to William Saliba is bad news for Arsenal fans, but good news for Cristhian Mosquera, who should get a good run in the team for the Frenchman's absence. Picking up a regular starter in the Arsenal defence for £5.5m with Coventry at home for the season opener will make Mosquera a popular pick.
DEF - Josko Gvardiol - £5.5m (MCY)
There is a slight gamble in Josko Gvardiol; his broken leg ruled him out of most of the second half of the season, with Marc Guehi a fixture in defence since his move from Crystal Palace. Nico O'Reilly has blossomed into a vital left-back, with Ruben Dias and Abdukodir Khusanov also options at the back.
Reports suggest Gvardiol is one of Enzo Maresca's 'pillars', and a Manchester City defensive regular who will provide a goal threat at £5.5m is well worth considering.
MID - Cole Palmer - £9.5m (CHE)
Cole Palmer looked a shadow of himself last season, struggling with fitness and form issues that saw him miss out on a place in England's World Cup squad. But fresh off his first football-free summer since 2023, Palmer could thrive under Xabi Alonso, who's expected to utilise the 24-year-old in his preferred role off the right wing.
In Alonso's first full season at Bayer Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz recorded 0.83 goals and assists per 90, reaching double figures for goals and assists. A similar return for Palmer would make him a must-own.
MID - Antoine Semenyo - £8.5m (MCY)
Four players reached 200 points last season in FPL. Antoine Semenyo was one. The former Bournemouth man was superb in a somewhat misfiring Manchester City side following his January move, scoring seven goals in 17 games. One of City's primary goal threats, if Maresca can get a similar tune out of Semenyo that Pep Guardiola and Andoni Iraola did, the Ghana star could be in for a massive season.
MID - Bryan Mbeumo - £8.0m (MUN)
Strangely, Bryan Mbeumo was one of the few players who looked better under Ruben Amorim than Michael Carrick. Of course, there are mitigating factors, in Mbeumo going to AFCON halfway through the season and returning to largely play up front for much of the second half of the season.
Despite some expected regression from his 20-goal season with Brentford, Mbeumo still managed 14 goal contributions across the campaign, and ranked eighth for xG in the Premier League. Between the equally priced Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Mbeumo gets the nod.
MID - Morgan Gibbs-White - £8.0m (NFO)
Despite playing under four different managers last season, Morgan Gibbs-White enjoyed a superb campaign at the City Ground, scoring 15 goals and laying on four assists. Oliver Glasner got the best out of his number 10s at Crystal Palace, and without the distractions of European football, there's no reason Gibbs-White can't at least repeat his efforts from last season.
FWD - Igor Thiago - £8.0m (BRE)
After missing much of his debut season through injury, Igor Thiago made up for lost time last season, scoring 22 goals for Brentford -- bettered only by Erling Haaland.
Although eight came from the spot, there's no reason to believe the Brazilian can't be similarly prolific in his second season under Keith Andrews.
FWD - Alexander Isak - £9.0m (LIV)
It's fair to say Alexander Isak's debut season at Liverpool could hardly have gone worse. Struggling for form even before his broken ankle, Isak was sorely underwhelming at Anfield. But the Swede should find his feet this term under Andoni Iraola, and with opening fixtures that read Newcastle (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Ipswich Town (A) and Fulham (H), Isak could find himself topping the Premier League goalscoring charts by the end of September.
FWD - Joao Pedro - £7.5m (CHE)
The second most owned forward in the game, Joao Pedro is generously priced at £7.5m. Criticised for his 10 non-penalty goals across two seasons with Brighton, the Brazilian scored 15 last term without one spot kick. Joao Pedro looks an ideal forward for Xabi Alonso's system, and a similar return to last season's 177 could well be improved upon.
SUB - Senne Lammens - £5.0m (MNU)
A position Manchester United have been weak for a number of years looks to have been filled for the foreseeable future with Senne Lammens. A promising debut season combined with generous opening fixtures and the ability to ensure one goalkeeper is playing at home makes Lammens a nice backup to David Raya.
SUB - Issa Diop - £4.0m (IPS)
Ipswich aren't likely to collect too many clean sheets this season, but their opening fixture at home to Sunderland feels like a good opportunity. Issa Diop, fresh off his move from Fulham, looks ripe for plenty of defensive contribution points and is a cheap pickup at £4.0m.
SUB - Rayan - £6.5m (BOU)
The injury to Eli Junior Kroupi is undoubtedly a blow, but it vacates a spot in Bournemouth's front line for Rayan. The Brazilian hit the ground running last season with a goal on his debut and was so impressive he found a way into Brazil's World Cup squad.
Rayan collected 5.43 points per 90 last season and could improve upon that in his first full Premier League season.
SUB - Milan van Ewijk - £4.0m (COV)
Many FPL managers will be eyeing gameweek 2 for Coventry's home game with Hull City as a potential bench boost. Milan van Ewijk recorded seven assists for the Sky Blues last season and his set piece ability makes him a worthwhile squad option.
