Pre-season is not only about goals and results. For Fantasy Premier League managers, the most useful clues are minutes, position, set pieces, injuries and the role a player is being asked to perform.
The official Premier League club-by-club update, last refreshed on 3 August 2026, has already revealed several players who could affect Gameweek 1 drafts. The season begins on 21 August, so these conclusions remain provisional and should be checked again after the final friendlies.
Several senior players returned late after the World Cup and the competition behind Ollie Watkins is still developing
Ian Maatsen (£4.5m)
Watchlist. Maatsen could benefit from Lucas Digne's departure, but wait for stronger evidence on starts
Bournemouth
Junior Kroupi is sidelined after foot surgery, creating extra attacking opportunity
Justin Kluivert (£6.0m)
Monitor. Kluivert or Marcus Tavernier could gain minutes, but the preferred front line is not settled
Brentford
Igor Thiago has not yet joined the group after the World Cup
Jaidon Anthony (£6.0m)
Monitor. Anthony has already scored, but Thiago's eventual return could change the attacking structure
Brighton
Pascal Gross scored a penalty and supplied an assist after Danny Welbeck's departure
Pascal Gross (£5.5m)
Strong watchlist. Set-piece responsibility at this price could make him one of pre-season's most important budget midfielders
Chelsea
Joao Pedro produced three goals and an assist in the opening friendly
Joao Pedro (£7.5m)
Shortlist. His ceiling is obvious, but confirm his Gameweek 1 role after the remaining friendlies
Coventry City
Milan van Ewijk scored from right-back after recording eight Championship assists last season
Milan van Ewijk (£4.0m)
Budget watchlist. An attacking £4.0m starter would be highly useful for squad structure
Crystal Palace
Pierre Sage has used a back three, improving the attacking outlook for the wing-backs
Tyrick Mitchell (£4.5m)
Watchlist. Mitchell may offer the cheaper route, while Daniel Munoz carries the greater attacking appeal
Everton
David Moyes has trialled wing-backs and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has taken right-sided corners
Adam Aznou (£4.0m)
Monitor closely. A starting £4.0m wing-back would be valuable, but his place is not secure yet
Fulham
Rodrigo Muniz has started through the middle and Ryan Sessegnon is now classified as a defender
Ryan Sessegnon (£4.5m)
Watchlist. An advanced full-back role could make Sessegnon a useful attacking defender
Hull City
Charlie Hughes has been ruled out of Gameweek 1, while the left-back position remains contested
Ryan Giles (£4.0m)
Wait. Giles has assist potential, but starts must be confirmed before selection
Ipswich Town
New £4.0m defender Issa Diop has attracted heavy early ownership, but his place in the back line still needs assessing
Issa Diop (£4.0m)
Do not follow ownership blindly. Confirm that he is first choice before using a valuable bench slot
Leeds United
Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice against Liverpool and ownership has climbed quickly
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£6.0m)
Shortlist with caution. Form is encouraging, but minutes and fitness remain more important than one friendly
Liverpool
Florian Wirtz has been tested as the No 10, while Milos Kerkez has already shown his attacking intent
Florian Wirtz (£7.5m)
Strong watchlist. His position behind the striker could offer excellent value if the role survives a full-strength lineup
Manchester City
Rodri has undergone back surgery, while Phil Foden captained the first friendly
Phil Foden (£7.0m)
Monitor. Foden's price is attractive, but his expected league minutes still need to become clearer
Manchester United
Bryan Mbeumo led the line and scored twice, while Benjamin Sesko has yet to feature
Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m)
Shortlist. A central role would raise his appeal, especially with United opening against Hull and Ipswich
Newcastle United
Anthony Gordon has left and Harvey Barnes is the leading candidate to absorb more attacking responsibility
Harvey Barnes (£6.0m)
Strong watchlist. His role and low ownership could create a genuine Gameweek 1 differential
Nottingham Forest
Oliver Glasner has introduced a 3-4-3 and Igor Jesus has scored four pre-season goals
Igor Jesus (£6.0m)
High-upside watchlist. The form is excellent, but competition for the striker position makes starts the key question
Sunderland
Enzo Le Fee has scored three times, although penalty duties remain undecided
Enzo Le Fee (£6.0m)
Shortlist with caution. Form and possible penalties are appealing, but his recent absence needs monitoring
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonin Kinsky has benefited from Guglielmo Vicario's tour absence, while the Richarlison-Solanke competition continues
Antonin Kinsky (£4.5m)
Monitor. He becomes a major budget goalkeeper option only if he is confirmed as the starter
The biggest FPL winners so far
Pascal Gross: a budget midfielder with possible penalties
Gross is one of the most actionable names in the early update. He registered an assist and converted a penalty against Strasbourg, and Danny Welbeck's move away from Brighton creates an opening in the set-piece hierarchy.
At £5.5m, confirmed penalties would materially change Gross' expected output. He does not need to score every week to justify his price if he combines regular starts, corners, free-kicks and spot-kicks.
Verdict: Put him on the watchlist now, but wait for another penalty or an official indication before treating the role as confirmed.
Florian Wirtz: the role may be more important than the friendly returns
Andoni Iraola has indicated that Wirtz will be developed in the position behind the striker. That is the most attractive role in Liverpool's attack for a £7.5m midfielder, particularly if he is able to link with the first-choice forwards.
Wirtz has already scored from that area, but the decisive information will come when Liverpool field a stronger XI. Dominik Szoboszlai has also performed well, so both position and expected minutes remain important.
Verdict: One of the highest-upside pre-season options, but do not lock him in until the first-choice shape is clearer.
Bryan Mbeumo: central minutes could transform his appeal
Mbeumo started as Manchester United's striker against Atletico Madrid and scored both goals. With Sesko yet to feature, central minutes would increase Mbeumo's goal threat compared with a wider role.
United also begin the season against promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town. That makes any nailed attacker more relevant for the opening two Gameweeks.
Verdict: A serious Gameweek 1 candidate if he continues to lead the line or remains central to United's first-choice attack.
Harvey Barnes: opportunity after Gordon's departure
Anthony Gordon's departure creates an obvious vacancy in Newcastle's attack. Barnes has already scored in pre-season and is available for £6.0m at very low early ownership.
The opportunity is real, but Newcastle's managerial change and the availability of other attackers mean the final friendlies matter.
Verdict: One of the better early differentials, especially if he starts with the strongest available XI.
Igor Jesus: form versus competition
Four goals in four pre-season appearances is difficult to ignore. However, Forest also have Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi and Arnaud Kalimuendo competing for the central-forward role.
Pre-season goals only help an FPL manager when they lead to Premier League minutes. Jesus therefore has one of the highest ceilings among the budget forwards, but also one of the clearest rotation risks.
Verdict: Do not buy the goals alone. Buy only if he emerges as the probable Gameweek 1 starter.
Best budget defenders emerging
Player
Price
Why managers are interested
Main risk
Milan van Ewijk
£4.0m
Attacking right-back who scored in pre-season and delivered eight league assists last season
Coventry's defensive level in the Premier League
Adam Aznou
£4.0m
Has impressed in an Everton wing-back role
Role may be experimental rather than permanent
Ryan Giles
£4.0m
Produced eight Championship assists last season
Competing with Matt Targett for the left-back place
Issa Diop
£4.0m
Cheap route into the Ipswich defence
High ownership has arrived before his starting status is confirmed
Ian Maatsen
£4.5m
Potential first-choice left-back after Digne's departure
Villa have not yet fielded all their senior players
Ryan Sessegnon
£4.5m
Now an FPL defender and has already scored from left-back
Fulham's defensive reliability and possible rotation
Tyrick Mitchell
£4.5m
Could operate as a wing-back in Palace's 3-4-3
System and role still need confirmation
A £4.0m defender does not need to be spectacular. He needs to start regularly, avoid blocking a useful third player from the same club and offer enough appearance or defensive-contribution points to cover an unexpected absence.
Before selecting one, check the latest lineups and compare each club's early schedule on OneFPL fixtures.
Players whose Gameweek 1 status needs monitoring
Player
Issue
FPL consequence
William Saliba (£6.0m)
Back injury and an extended absence
Opens a possible route for a £5.5m Arsenal defender
Amadou Onana (£5.0m)
Long-term knee injury
Reduces competition in Villa's midfield but may affect defensive balance
Junior Kroupi (£7.5m)
Foot surgery
Creates extra Bournemouth attacking minutes
James Garner (£6.0m)
Groin surgery
Everton set pieces and midfield roles may change
Charlie Hughes (£4.0m)
Ruled out of Gameweek 1
Remove him from opening-week bench drafts
Rodri (£6.5m)
Back surgery
Manchester City's midfield structure and defensive security may change
Benjamin Sesko (£7.0m)
Has not yet featured in pre-season
Mbeumo's central role becomes more relevant
Guglielmo Vicario (£4.5m)
Not in Tottenham's tour squad
Kinsky could become the first-choice budget goalkeeper
For a wider check before the deadline, review the latest articles on the OneFPL blog and verify player availability again after the final round of friendlies.
What pre-season results should you trust?
A goal in a friendly is useful evidence, but it is not enough by itself. Prioritise these signals:
Starts with the strongest available XI.
A repeatable position, especially a winger playing centrally or a defender operating as a wing-back.
Set-piece responsibility, including penalties and corners.
Consistent minutes across several matches.
Official injury information and return dates.
A role that fits the opening fixtures.
Treat late substitute goals, split-squad matches and performances against much weaker opposition with more caution.
The early OneFPL watchlist
Based on role, price and the information available on 3 August, these are the names most worth tracking through the remaining friendlies:
Priority
Player
Price
Why
1
Pascal Gross
£5.5m
Possible penalties and set pieces at a budget price
2
Florian Wirtz
£7.5m
Being developed as Liverpool's No 10
3
Bryan Mbeumo
£8.0m
Central role, two goals and excellent opening fixtures
4
Harvey Barnes
£6.0m
More opportunity after Gordon's departure
5
Milan van Ewijk
£4.0m
Attacking route to a playing budget defender
6
Igor Jesus
£6.0m
Four pre-season goals, subject to starting security
7
Ian Maatsen
£4.5m
Potential value as Villa's first-choice left-back
8
Enzo Le Fee
£6.0m
Three goals and a possible share of penalties
9
Antonin Kinsky
£4.5m
Could become a starting budget goalkeeper
10
Joao Pedro
£7.5m
Explosive opening display and strong attacking upside
Final verdict
The strongest pre-season developments are not necessarily the biggest scorelines. Gross taking a penalty, Wirtz playing behind the striker, Mbeumo leading the line, Palace and Everton testing wing-backs, and several £4.0m defenders competing for starts are more useful than a single friendly goal.
Do not finalise your Gameweek 1 team on 3 August. Instead, build a watchlist and use the remaining matches to confirm minutes and roles. The safest strategy is to select players whose opportunity, fitness and position are still clear when the strongest lineups appear.
FAQ
Who is the best FPL pre-season player to watch?
Pascal Gross is one of the most important budget players to monitor because he is priced at £5.5m and has already taken a penalty. Bryan Mbeumo, Florian Wirtz and Harvey Barnes also have potentially valuable attacking roles.
Should I pick a player because he scored in pre-season?
Not on that evidence alone. Confirm that the player is likely to start, is playing in a repeatable attacking role and is producing returns with a strong lineup.
Which £4.0m FPL defenders should I monitor?
Milan van Ewijk, Adam Aznou, Ryan Giles and Issa Diop are among the names to track. Starting security matters more than early ownership.
Is Dominic Calvert-Lewin a good FPL pick?
His two goals against Liverpool put him on the shortlist at £6.0m, but managers should still confirm his fitness and expected minutes before Gameweek 1.
When is the 2026/27 FPL Gameweek 1 deadline?
The official deadline is Friday 21 August 2026 at 18:30 BST. Check the deadline again in the official game before making final transfers.
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.
Build the best FPL Gameweek 1 bench with a cheap goalkeeper, £4.0m defenders, a first substitute and an optional early Bench Boost structure.
