When you hear someone mention a draft that includes Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland and Bruno Fernandes, the immediate assumption is that it's far too top-heavy to be viable. Surely, squeezing three elite premiums into one team means the rest of the FPL squad must be filled with unreliable bench fodder?
Surprisingly, that's not the case here.
This particular draft shows that with some clever budget maneuvering and a few emerging enablers, it's possible to fit all three big hitters and maintain a sense of structure and balance across the rest of the team.
Looking for predicted lineups or FPL rankings? We've got you covered.
Premium Trio Power
Let's start with the core of the team: Haaland, Salah and Fernandes.
These three are not just reliable, they're explosive captaincy options. Rostering all three from the outset gives you a security blanket in the opening gameweeks. If one of them goes big early, you're covered. Haaland and Salah dominate the captaincy conversation, while Bruno, with penalties and a creative ceiling, is an ideal third premium to have.
Getting them all in requires precision elsewhere, but the draft doesn't feel as if it compromises massively in other areas.
Defense That's Surprisingly Solid
Despite the heavy spend in midfield and attack, the defense in this draft is more than just serviceable, it's genuinely solid.
Starting with a double-up on Spurs defenders, a move that's both fixture-driven and backed by evolving tactical circumstances. Tottenham open with a home game against Burnley, which carries the highest clean sheet odds of any fixture in Gameweek 1.
Under new manager Thomas Frank and with the signing of Joao Palhinha, Spurs are expected to tighten up significantly at the back. Palhinha offers an excellent defensive shield in midfield, something the team lacked last season. If their structure improves, their defenders, especially the attacking ones like Pedro Porro, could offer tremendous value.
In goal, Robert Sanchez is an affordable route into a Chelsea side that ended last season with the second-best xG conceded in the league. There's every reason to believe they'll carry that defensive form forward after cruising through the Club World Cup with multiple clean sheets, including one against PSG in the final.
Murillo (£4.5m) is another smart inclusion, as he's a starting defender with solid fixtures and the ability to rotate when needed.
Midfield Value Picks
To make the premium trio work, the remaining midfielders need to deliver, and in this draft, they do.
Kaoru Mitoma (£6.5m): He's nailed in the Brighton XI, a constant attacking presence no matter the opponent and Brighton have strong early fixtures.
Iliman Ndiaye (£6.5m): He's a less-popular gem who looks set to start regularly with plenty of goal-involvement potential, especially if he remains on PKs.
Elliot Anderson (£5.5m): Playing often as a defensive midfielder, he's expected to benefit from the new defensive contributions rule, making him a potential bonus magnet even without heavy attacking returns. Plus, the transfer of Anthony Elanga could mean more set pieces for Anderson.
These players allow you to fill out the midfield with options who are not only affordable but offer decent upside in their own right.
Enablers Who Actually Play
The secret to unlocking a draft like this lies in the forward line, and specifically, in two budget options who are shaping up to be game-changers.
Marc Guiu (£4.5m) is one of the most promising cheap forwards this season. Loaned to Sunderland from Chelsea, there are widespread reports that his loan deal includes a minimum minutes clause, a strong indicator that he'll start regularly. For a £4.5m striker, that's as close to gold as it gets.
Thiago (£6.0m) becomes an absolute gem if Yoane Wissa leaves Brentford. The central striker role in that Brentford system has always delivered, whether it's been Ivan Toney or Wissa, the player leading the line has thrived. Thiago could very well step into that position and even take penalties, making him an outstanding low-cost forward who frees up funds elsewhere.
Even if Wissa stays, Thiago still could have a lock on the No. 9 role, pushing Wissa to the wing.
The Best Haaland, Salah and Fernandes Draft
