Friday's 18:30 BST deadline is approaching fast, and with it comes the familiar paralysis of the blank screen and 100 players to pick. Here are the five questions dominating pre-season FPL thinking — and what the evidence actually says.

1. Is Haaland worth £15.5m?

Start with the number: 239. That was Erling Haaland's FPL point total last season, enough to beat Bruno Fernandes by four points and claim the top-scorer crown. It is also 33 points short of his 2022-23 peak — yet his price has jumped from £14m to £15.5m, making him the most expensive player in the game's history.

The case for is essentially about captaincy. In a season where genuine premium options are scarce (Fernandes at £12m is the only realistic alternative), going without Haaland means wrestling with the armband decision nearly every week. Missing a Haaland haul when the majority of managers have him captained is a rank-killer that is very difficult to recover from.

The caveat worth noting is the World Cup hangover. Haaland played 53 minutes of the Community Shield and, by multiple accounts, looked heavy-legged. Managers who start with him should monitor his minutes in the early gameweeks closely.

2. Which Manchester United assets are worth picking alongside Fernandes?

Fernandes is in nearly 50% of FPL squads heading into the new campaign — his 14 attacking returns last season made him the second-highest scorer overall. The question is which United players to stack around him.

In attack, Bryan Mbeumo (£8m) is the consensus pick. He has had a full pre-season, is expected to operate as the central striker, and faces Hull City and Ipswich Town in his opening two fixtures. Matheus Cunha (£8m) also registered 14 attacking returns last term and carries more positional flexibility, but his pre-season workload is a mild concern for managers who prioritise sharpness early on.

Defensively, Harry Maguire (£5m) and Luke Shaw (£4.5m) both offer clean sheet potential against two promoted sides in the first two gameweeks. Shaw is the cheaper route; Maguire's aerial threat gives him a slightly higher ceiling for bonus points and set-piece returns. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens (£5m) — eight clean sheets last season — rounds out the potential United triple or quadruple.

3. Cole Palmer or Morgan Rogers?

Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso and spent £117m on Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. Where that leaves Cole Palmer in terms of role and volume is the central FPL question at Stamford Bridge. Palmer was one of the defining assets of last season; Rogers arrives as a statement signing with no clear positional fit confirmed yet.

Until Alonso's preferred system becomes clearer, Palmer's ownership is likely to reflect caution rather than confidence. Rogers, meanwhile, is an unknown quantity in terms of FPL output at a new club. The market is essentially pricing in uncertainty for both, which means either could be a differential depending on early team news.

4. Who are the best budget defenders?

With Haaland and Fernandes consuming a significant chunk of the £100m budget, cheap reliable defenders are essential. Shaw at £4.5m represents one of the better value options, though Champions League commitments later in the campaign could affect his minutes. Lammens in goal at £5m offers a sensible route to a solid United backline without sacrificing attacking firepower elsewhere.

5. Should I chase differentials from the start?

The short answer is probably not in gameweek one. The first two or three weeks tend to reward template squads because captaincy differentials can sink a rank before the season has properly begun. The better approach is to build a solid template core — Haaland, Fernandes, Mbeumo — and identify differential opportunities once early form and team shapes have settled.

The deadline is Friday 16 May at 18:30 BST. You can join the BBC Sport League using code bbcfpl on the official FPL site.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Is Erling Haaland worth picking in FPL this season?
At £15.5m he is the most expensive FPL player ever, but most experts still consider him essential because of the captaincy advantage. He scored 239 points last season and beat Bruno Fernandes to the top-scorer title. The main risk is a potential World Cup hangover affecting his early-season form and fitness.
What is the FPL deadline for the 2025-26 season opener?
The deadline for Gameweek 1 of the new FPL season is Friday at 18:30 BST. Make sure your squad is finalised and your captain selected before that cut-off.
Should I pick Bryan Mbeumo or Matheus Cunha in FPL?
Both are priced at £8m and both registered 14 attacking returns last season. Mbeumo has the edge for managers who prioritise a full pre-season and a likely central striker role. Cunha appeals for his positional versatility across the front line. It is a genuine coin-flip, and some managers are opting for both.