We are less than two weeks away from the 2026/27 Premier League season kicking off. It’s that time of year where FPL links are dropped in group chats, and forfeits are discussed. Time to start drafting up teams for Gameweek 1. Let’s take a look at some players who you should have locked in before that first deadline.
Antonin Kinsky – Tottenham – Goalkeeper – 4.5 million
Kinsky seems to be a popular pick for a starting goalkeeper heading into the new season. The Czech keeper is set to be the new Tottenham number one, with his teammate Vicario looking almost certain to leave the club after not featuring in pre-season. A price tag of 4.5 million for a starting goalkeeper at a ‘top six’ club is almost unheard of, and helps you save funds to spend more in other positions.
Although Tottenham were fighting in a relegation scrap last season, they have heavily invested in both their defence and midfield so far this summer. You’d expect that with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm and a new-look back line, they will not find themselves in the same position.
Florian Wirtz – Liverpool – Midfielder – 7.5 million
Wirtz didn’t have the best debut season for Liverpool, and took a while to start putting up goals and assists. It wasn’t just the German; his first season on Merseyside was a disastrous one for the entire club, eventually leading to former head coach Arne Slot being sacked at the end of the campaign.
However, in pre-season under new manager Iraola, we have seen a different Florian Wirtz. It appears he is playing the role that Junior Kroupi played under Iraola last season for Bournemouth, almost as a second striker. Wirtz has scored two goals in two pre-season games so far, which suggests he is going to be in and around the goals for Liverpool. The Reds start the campaign against a depleted Newcastle team away, before welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield. At 7.5 million, it feels as if having Wirtz in your team for Gameweek 1 is a banker.
Antione Semenyo – Man City – Midfielder – 8.5 million
This is a player more on the pricier side compared to the first two we’ve looked at. Although Semenyo holds a price tag of 8.5 million, he has become a must-buy in FPL over the last few seasons. The Ghanaian forward was the main man in an overachieving Bournemouth team, earning him a move to Man City, where he scored 8 goals and provided one assist after his January transfer to Manchester.
Semenyo is a key part of a City team that will be competing for the Premier League title once again next season, making him well worth the 8.5 million. A great pre-season with four assists in three games means he can truly become a valuable asset under Enzo Maresca.
Harry Wilson – Leeds United – Midfielder – 6.5 million
Wilson was an FPL demon last year, ending the season with the seventh most points of any midfielder. The Welshman dropped off towards the end of the season, but there was a point in the campaign where it was unforgivable not to have him in your team.
After leaving Fulham at the end of his contract, Wilson has made a move to Leeds United over the summer on a free transfer. The midfielder was high in demand, but the Yorkshire club won the race for his signature. You’d expect he will be a key player in anything Leeds do next season, making a price tag of 6.5 million a bargain you can’t pass up.
Brian Brobbey – Sunderland – Forward – 6.0 million
Brobbey had a standout debut Premier League season in the 2025/26 campaign. The Dutchman struggled to make his mark in a high-flying Sunderland team at first, but in the second half of the season showed that he is capable of bullying any defence. The only doubt will be if Sunderland as a team can deal with the balance of playing in Europe while managing to get results on a weekly basis in the Premier League.
However, until European competitions start, you’d expect them to be just fine, and Brobbey to continue where he left off. Sunderland’s first game is away to newly promoted Ipswich, before welcoming Fulham to the Stadium of Light. Brobbey is a tempting choice for the first couple of game weeks.
