Haaland's £15.5m price creates two different FPL questions.
Managers without him need a forward capable of becoming their main attacking premium. Managers owning him need affordable strike partners who do not weaken the rest of the squad.
Here are the strongest alternatives at each price.
Alexander Isak: £9.0m
Isak is the leading premium alternative.
His first Liverpool season was disrupted by injury, limiting him to eight league starts and 41 FPL points. However, he produced 23 goals, six assists and 211 points during his final Newcastle campaign.
A long-term injury to Hugo Ekitike should make Isak Liverpool's first-choice centre-forward. He could also enter the penalty discussion following Salah's departure.
Liverpool avoid all of last season's top 10 during their first four fixtures.
Why select him:
Saves £6.5m compared with Haaland
Secure central-forward role when fit
Possible penalty duty
Strong early fixtures
Proven 200-point potential
Main concern: Recent injury history.
Verdict: Best premium alternative to Haaland.
Igor Thiago: £8.0m
Thiago scored 22 goals from 37 starts and collected 181 points last season.
His 80 shots inside the box and 41 big chances both ranked second among forwards behind Haaland.
Brentford's attack is built around him, and he remains their leading penalty candidate.
Watkins scored 167 points last season and remains an established route into Aston Villa's attack.
He offers goals and assists rather than relying only on penalties. The opening match away to Brighton is reasonable, although Villa's wider attacking setup should be assessed during pre-season.
Why select him:
Proven long-term FPL record
Strong assist potential
Reliable central role
Lower ownership than Thiago and Joao Pedro
Main concern: Uncertainty over Villa's penalty order and summer tactical changes.
Verdict: Safest alternative for managers who prefer experience.
Joao Pedro: £7.5m
Joao Pedro scored 177 points last season and is currently owned by 47.5 percent of managers.
His price makes him easy to pair with Haaland, but his ownership is extremely high before Chelsea's final line-up has been confirmed.
Monitor whether he starts centrally, plays alongside Palmer and retains any share of penalties.
Why select him:
Strong previous FPL total
Attractive price
Chelsea attacking exposure
Easy fit beside Haaland
Main concern: Competition and penalty uncertainty.
Verdict: Best current Haaland partner when the starting role is confirmed.
Viktor Gyokeres: £7.5m
Gyokeres scored 14 league goals last season and finished just behind Calvert-Lewin among forwards.
Arsenal begin at home to promoted Coventry, creating immediate interest in their central striker.
His value depends on whether he starts ahead of Arsenal's other central options and whether he gains any share of penalties from Saka.
Why select him:
Arsenal's excellent opening fixture
Proven goal threat
Potential route into an elite attack
Lower price than Isak and Thiago
Main concern: Minutes and penalty competition.
Verdict: Highest-upside £7.5m alternative, but less secure than Joao Pedro.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: £6.0m
Calvert-Lewin scored 14 goals, supplied two assists and collected 142 points last season.
He is also Leeds' first-choice penalty taker.
Leeds begin away to Nottingham Forest, so he may be more useful as part of a fixture rotation than an automatic Gameweek 1 starter.
Why select him:
Affordable
Penalties
Proven Premier League experience
Reliable central-forward role
Main concern: Fitness history and the opening away fixture.
Verdict: Best secure £6.0m forward.
William Osula: £6.0m
Osula started Newcastle's final seven league matches and scored five goals during that period.
Newcastle face only three of last season's top 10 across their opening 10 fixtures.
He offers more uncertainty than Calvert-Lewin because Newcastle's attacking competition remains important.
Why select him:
Strong end to last season
Favourable medium-term fixtures
Low price
Potential breakout player
Main concern: Starting security.
Verdict: Best high-risk £6.0m forward.
Best forward combinations
Haaland structure
Haaland
Joao Pedro or Gyokeres
Calvert-Lewin or Osula
This structure keeps the premium captain while controlling spending elsewhere.
Balanced structure
Isak
Thiago
Joao Pedro
This costs less than a Haaland-led forward line and distributes the scoring opportunity across three players.
Budget-heavy structure
Thiago
Calvert-Lewin
Osula
This releases significant funds for Bruno, Saka, Palmer or a premium defence.
OneFPL forward ranking
Isak
Thiago
Joao Pedro
Watkins
Gyokeres
Calvert-Lewin
Osula
Final FPL verdict
Isak is the best direct alternative to Haaland because of Liverpool's fixtures, his likely starting role and previous 200-point potential.
Thiago is the safest mid-priced selection, while Joao Pedro is the most natural strike partner for Haaland when Chelsea's line-up confirms his role.
Gyokeres offers strong Gameweek 1 upside. Calvert-Lewin provides the safest £6.0m minutes, while Osula is the more aggressive breakout option.
Going without Haaland can work, but the saving must strengthen several positions. Do not remove the game's best captain simply to leave money unused across your squad.
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
The strongest budget, mid-priced and premium midfielders for the opening Gameweeks of the 2026/27 FPL season.
