Every August, Fantasy Premier League managers face the same agonising question: do you break the bank on the most expensive asset in the game, or do you spread the budget and hope differentials do the damage? This season, that question centres squarely on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, priced at £15.5m — and FPL expert Gianni Buttice has been weighing up whether the Norwegian is still worth every penny.

The Case for Haaland

The argument in favour of Haaland starts with the numbers, and it is difficult to argue with them. Since arriving in the Premier League, he has consistently produced the kind of returns that make other premium options look average. When City are firing, Haaland is the primary beneficiary — goals, bonus points and clean-sheet upside from set-pieces all funnel through him.

At £15.5m, he sits at the very top of the FPL price scale, but his ceiling in a good Manchester City week remains almost unmatched. Managers who built around him in previous campaigns were frequently rewarded. The market tends to reflect that confidence, with ownership figures for Haaland routinely among the highest in the game at the start of a season.

The Reasons to Hesitate

The counterargument is equally compelling. Committing £15.5m to a single player eats so heavily into your starting budget that it forces compromises everywhere else. Midfield and defensive options that might otherwise be automatic selections get squeezed out, and one injury or a run of poor City fixtures can leave your squad looking threadbare.

There is also the question of Manchester City's broader form and consistency. A club navigating a turbulent period both on and off the pitch introduces an element of uncertainty that has not always been present in previous seasons. If City's attacking output dips, Haaland's returns will follow — and at £15.5m, the opportunity cost of a blank gameweek feels especially punishing.

Buttice's analysis puts those competing considerations front and centre, noting that other premium options in midfield — the sort of players who can accumulate assists and attacking returns without needing their side to dominate every game — offer a genuine alternative route to topping your mini-league.

The Differential Question

One of the most interesting angles emerging from the debate is the differential versus template dilemma. If Haaland's ownership ends up being extremely high — as it has been in previous seasons — blanking with him hurts far less in a head-to-head context than going without him when he hauls. That logic pushes many cautious managers back towards him regardless of the fee.

Equally, managers who build squads without Haaland and get it right can gain enormous ground quickly. The risk cuts both ways, and that tension is exactly what makes the decision so compelling at the start of every campaign.

Verdict

There is no clean answer here, and Buttice is right to frame it as a genuine debate rather than a formality. Haaland's talent is not in question — his ability to accumulate FPL points at pace remains elite. The question is whether £15.5m represents value given the squad-building constraints it creates, and whether City's form in 2025-26 will be reliable enough to justify the outlay.

For managers comfortable with a template approach and happy to trust City's attacking output, Haaland remains as compelling as ever. For those looking to build a more flexible, differential-heavy squad, there may be smarter ways to spend that budget elsewhere.

Frequently asked

How much does Haaland cost in FPL 2025-26?
Erling Haaland is priced at £15.5m in Fantasy Premier League for the 2025-26 season, making him the most expensive striker in the game.
Is it worth picking Haaland in FPL?
It depends on your squad-building strategy. Haaland offers elite goal-scoring returns when Manchester City are in form, but his £15.5m price tag limits budget flexibility elsewhere in your squad.
What FPL alternatives are there to Haaland?
Premium midfielders who accumulate goals and assists can offer a viable alternative to Haaland, freeing up budget for stronger defensive or midfield options. The best picks vary each season based on fixtures and form.