The first batch of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) prices for the 2025/26 season has been announced, and the Elite XI: Team Reveal managers have weighed in with their thoughts.
Here’s what they had to say about the early prices of Jordan Pickford, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz.
James Cooper had a clear take on Everton’s goalkeeper:
"Pickford is clearly overpriced. I would be surprised if anyone is interested at £5.5m unless all the other keepers are bumped up in price – essentially a dead pick."
Despite being England’s number one, Pickford’s high price seems a bit steep for many. Unless there is a significant shift in the pricing of other keepers, this price point may make him less appealing to managers looking for value.
Corey Baker echoed a similar sentiment, stating that "Pickford is way too high," with no real justification for the £5.5m price tag unless there are shifts across the board for goalkeepers.
While Pickford has been the top-scoring goalkeeper for the last two seasons, the Opta Stats Sandbox shows that keepers like Flekken, Henderson, and Sanchez, who started at £4.5m, also made the top six scoring goalkeepers.
It seems likely that many managers will opt for budget keepers again. However, with the introduction of double chips this season, there’s the possibility that rotating goalkeepers might make a return, especially as many are considering using the Bench Boost in Gameweek 1.
Aït-Nouri, a potential asset for Man City, is another player whose price sparked some discussion.
James Cooper noted that "Aït-Nouri seems about right at £6.0m if he can nail down a regular spot, but that’s always the issue with Pep."
The uncertainty around his playing time makes him a bit of a gamble at that price as £6.0m is quite an investment.
However, as shown in his Opta Heatmap (left) and Shotmap (right) – both available for £1 in the Preseason Pack – if he's given the same freedom to push forward as he had at Wolves and can secure regular minutes, he could offer great value for managers seeking defensive options.
For Isak, the £10.5m price tag was exactly what James Cooper expected. He commented, "Isak at £10.5m is what I was expecting. Whether there’s a spot for him will depend on other premium prices and the shape the squad takes."
Newcastle have some strong attacking fixtures in the first four Gameweeks, ranking fourth for attack in the Fixture Planner.
After an away trip to Villa and a home game against Liverpool, they face two appealing matches against Leeds (A) and Wolves (H), assuming Isak remains with the Magpies, despite ongoing transfer rumours.
Corey also felt the price was fair, adding that the "price inflation" indicates FPL is adopting a more aggressive pricing strategy this season, which will likely influence how managers approach squad-building.
Wirtz’s £8.5m price is the most intriguing.
James Cooper expressed interest in the Liverpool-bound midfielder, stating "Wirtz is really interesting and I was expecting something a little higher."
With excellent numbers for Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz could be central to Liverpool’s attacking play, making him a potentially great pick at a reasonable price. However, as James pointed out, not every Bundesliga star hits the ground running in the Premier League, with previous imports like Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku struggling to make an immediate impact.
Walter Randazzo also noted that he "would have expected £9.0m at least" for Wirtz, suggesting that FPL might be underpricing him considering his potential role in Liverpool’s attack.
These early FPL price announcements have certainly sparked plenty of debate among the top managers. While some prices feel reasonable, others, like Pickford, are considered a bit high, and players like Wirtz are generating significant interest due to their potential at a relatively low price.
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