FPL 2026/27 Best Squad: Haaland, Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel Lead the Early Picks

With the 2026/27 Premier League season approaching, Fantasy Premier League managers are already facing a major challenge — how to fit the biggest stars into a £100.0m budget without weakening the rest of the squad.

Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel are among the standout premium picks for the opening Gameweeks, but owning all three will cost a combined £35.5m.

That makes finding value elsewhere absolutely crucial.

Haaland, Bruno and Gabriel Take Up More Than a Third of the Budget

Haaland is priced at £15.5m, Bruno Fernandes at £12.0m and Gabriel at £8.0m.

Together, they take up 35.5 per cent of the total FPL budget.

The trio also cost £6.5m more than they did at the start of last season, meaning managers will need to rely more heavily on budget defenders, midfielders and forwards.

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro, priced at £7.5m, is another attractive attacking option for managers building around Haaland.

Manchester United Offer Strong Early Fixtures

Manchester United have one of the most appealing starts to the new season, facing promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town in the opening two Gameweeks.

Bruno Fernandes remains the main premium option, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, both priced at £8.0m, could provide another route into United’s attack.

Mbeumo has shown encouraging pre-season form, but managers should continue monitoring United’s remaining friendlies before finalising their squads.

Look for Value in Defence

Managers selecting Gabriel may want to target defenders in the £5.0m to £5.5m price range elsewhere.

Arsenal have several defenders priced at £5.5m who could become strong FPL options depending on team selection and injuries.

Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire, priced at £5.0m, is another potential budget choice thanks to favourable early fixtures and his threat from set-pieces.

Budget Forwards Could Be Key

In the lower forward price brackets, Nottingham Forest’s Igor Jesus is one of the names attracting attention after an impressive pre-season.

A regular starting role could make him a useful option for managers looking to save money up front.

Budget forwards will be especially important for squads built around Haaland, whose £15.5m price significantly limits spending elsewhere.

Midfield Bargains Can Free Up Funds

Managers can also look below the £6.5m mark for cheaper midfielders.

Players such as Pascal Gross and Enzo Le Fee offer different routes to points through goals, assists, set-pieces and defensive contributions.

Finding one or two reliable budget midfielders could make it much easier to afford the premium stars.

Save Money on Goalkeepers and the Bench

Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, priced at £4.5m, is among the budget options worth monitoring if he secures the starting role.

Promoted defenders are also priced at £4.0m, making them useful bench options.

Using cheaper players for backup positions allows managers to invest more heavily in their starting XI.

Final FPL Strategy

The main challenge in FPL 2026/27 is balancing premium players with value picks.

Haaland, Bruno Fernandes and Gabriel can provide a strong core, but spending £35.5m on three players means every cheaper selection becomes important.

Managers should therefore focus on affordable defenders, budget midfielders, low-cost forwards and a cheap bench while continuing to monitor pre-season form, injuries and starting line-ups before Gameweek 1.