FPL
20 August 2026 583 comments
FPL Marc FPL Marc
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Our latest Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2026/27 team preview focuses on Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur, who keep spending big.

Here, we discuss their best FPL picks for the upcoming campaign. We’ll also attempt to predict the line-up for Gameweek 1, review pre-season, look at their set-piece takers and more.



REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

Spurs appoint De Zerbi as new head coach 1

NEW ARRIVALS

After flirting with relegation, Tottenham have made a real statement of intent this summer, bringing in six new players, from the big-money midfield acquisitions to some savvy frees at the free.

Mateus Fernandes (£6.0m), Sandro Tonali (£5.5m), Jan Paul van Hecke (£5.0m), Marcos Senesi (£6.0m), Andrew Robertson (£4.5m) and Martin Dubravka (£4.0m) have already joined the squad, adding some much-needed Premier League experience.

De Zerbi has recently insisted that Spurs aren’t yet done in the transfer market, either.

THE DE ZERBI EFFECT

Just one point above the relegation places at the point of Igor Tudor’s departure, Tottenham ended 2025/26 with three wins, two draws and only one defeat from their final six matches.

De Zerbi injected new life into Spurs, with progress made at both ends of the pitch:

Tottenham conceded only four goals and kept two clean sheets in their last five matches, so there is a quiet confidence ahead of De Zerbi’s first full season in charge.

The importance of a full pre-season with his squad cannot be underestimated after he took over from Tudor at a very chaotic time, too.


REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

FPL notes: Shot-shy Villa rotate + is Richarlison worth a punt?

LACK OF CREATIVITY

Tottenham have been active in the summer transfer window, but after a poor season in front of goal, much more is needed up top.

In 2025/26, Spurs ranked 17th for expected goals (xG), with 40.04, which tells us there were real creativity issues.

Richarlison (£6.0m) was their top Premier League goalscorer with 11, but after that, there was a drop-off, with Joao Palhinha (five), Cristian Romero, Mathys Tel (£6.0m) and Micky van de Ven (£5.0m, all four) their next highest.

Injuries played a part, notably to creators such as Xavi Simons (£6.0m), James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus (all £6.5m), but there is clear work for De Zerbi to do from an attacking perspective.

Indeed, going into Gameweek 1, and despite all the money spent, we’re looking at Richarlison, Tel and even Mikey Moore (£5.0m) forming the front three!

N17 FORM

Tottenham’s home record in the Premier League was pitiful last season.

They won only three matches, with their total of 15 points fewer than every other team apart from relegated duo Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley.

In contrast, they secured 26 points while playing away, which is 11 points more than they achieved at home.

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If Tottenham are to achieve anything in 2026/27, their home form simply has to improve.


TOTTENHAM: SUMMER TRANSFER ACTIVITY

Key Transfers In:

DEF | Andrew Robertson Liverpool (free)
GK | Martin Dubravka | Burnley (free)
DEF | Marcos Senesi | Bournemouth (free)
DEF | Jan Paul van Hecke | Brighton and Hove Albion (£52m)
MID | Mateus Fernandes | West Ham United (£85m)
MID | Sandro Tonali | Newcastle United (£100m)

Key Transfers Out:

MID | Yves Bissouma Released
FWD | Alejo Veliz Bahia (£8m)
DEF | Radu Dragusin | Fiorentina (loan)
DEF | Luka Vuskovic | Brighton and Hove Albion (£46m)
MID | Manor Solomon West Ham United (£5m)
DEF | Cristian Romero | Atletico Madrid (£34.2m)
GK | Guglielmo Vicario | Juventus (loan)

TOTTENHAM: PRE-SEASON FPL REPORTS

Jul 22 | Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers (h) | Fernandes
Jul 26 | Auckland FC 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (a) | Scarlett (Solomon assist), Richarlison (Tel assist)
Jul 29 | Sydney FC 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (a) | Tel (Solomon assist)
Aug 1 | Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea (n) | Tonali (Solomon assist), Richarlison (Donley assist)
Aug 8 | Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Getafe (h) | Gallagher
Aug 15 | Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 1899 Hoffenheim (h) | Richarlison (Robertson assist), Moore (Tel assist), Moore (Tel assist)
Aug 16 | Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 1899 Hoffenheim (h) | Davies (Fernandes assist), Williams-Barnett (Sarr assist)

Form Players: Tel (1 goal, 3 assists), Richarlison (3 goals), Solomon (3 assists), Moore (2 goals), Fernandes (1 goal, 1 assist)


OPENING FIXTURES

Spurs’ first six matches sit in the middle of our Fixture Ticker. Last season’s equivalent fixtures ended with four defeats, one draw and that dramatic final-day home win over Everton.

Then again, their poor recent record versus Newcastle – six losses from nine in all competitions – means almost nothing, considering the huge changes at both clubs.

Gameweek 7 is where the schedule improves, ranked as the Ticker’s second-best between then and Gameweek 13.

Such a spell has them at home to two newly promoted teams, alongside solid trips to Leeds United and Sunderland.

With players back from injury and the transfer market shut by that point, this might be the time to pounce in FPL.


PENALTY + SET-PIECE TAKERS

 

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The rest of this article below is completely free to read but requires a Fantasy Football Scout user account for access – you can get yours at no cost here

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New FPL Stats Centre: Find the best picks, differentials + DefCon stars 2

FPL Marc Broadcaster, writer and overthinker. Hoping that ‘differential potential’ will catch on.

583 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. DEO0420
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    23 hours, 28 mins ago

    A. Thiago Mbuemo MGW Maguire

    or

    B. Isak Szobo Semenyo Shaw

    1. Meechum
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 3 Years
      23 hours, 8 mins ago

      A

  2. Koflok
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    23 hours, 26 mins ago

    Which defense combo?
    a) Vuskovic Rodon Maguire
    b) N. Williams Rodon Maguire
    c) Muharemovic Hume Maguire
    d) Mosquera Rodon Shaw

    1. DEO0420
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      23 hours, 9 mins ago

      I like C then B

  3. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    23 hours, 23 mins ago

    Final draft with BB1 in mind. Have 0.5 itb, if you'd like to change anything.

    Verbruggen, Kinsky
    Calafiori, Gabriel, Shaw, Davis, O'Nien
    Ødegaard, Mbeumo, Semenyo, Szoboszlai, Groß
    Brobbey, João Pedro, Haaland

    1. C. SAMBA
      • 13 Years
      23 hours, 17 mins ago

      Upgrade Shaw to Maguire maybe

      1. The Philosopher
        • 6 Years
        23 hours, 6 mins ago

        What's wrong with Shaw?

        1. Doosra - ☭BowenOfRice☭
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          20 hours, 24 mins ago

          Nothing. Wonderful fixture.

  4. henrysquire
    • 8 Years
    23 hours, 22 mins ago

    Kinsky Verbruggen
    Calafiori Palestra Ajer Hume Davis
    Palmer Mbuemo Schade Dewsbury-Hall Tzolis
    Haaland Isak Igor

    GTG?

    1. C. SAMBA
      • 13 Years
      23 hours, 17 mins ago

      GTG

  5. BR510
    23 hours, 22 mins ago

    1. Wirtz Palestra DCL
    2. Wirtz ONien Thiago
    3. Schade Palestra Thiago

    1. C. SAMBA
      • 13 Years
      23 hours, 18 mins ago

      3

  6. Real Social Me Dad
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    23 hours, 22 mins ago

    Gross or Schade for the last mid choice.

    1. C. SAMBA
      • 13 Years
      23 hours, 18 mins ago

      Schade

  7. C. SAMBA
    • 13 Years
    23 hours, 19 mins ago

    Best 5.5 mid to have between gameweeks 1 to 5?

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 10 Years
      22 hours, 43 mins ago

      Gross

    2. #1 Arne Engels Fan
      • 2 Years
      22 hours, 40 mins ago

      Sangare

      1. The FPL Units
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        22 hours, 32 mins ago

        This

  8. Stevecat
    • 12 Years
    23 hours, 18 mins ago

    Which 2 from these should I pay for this week only…

    Pedro, Havertz, Isak, gykores

    1. C. SAMBA
      • 13 Years
      23 hours, 16 mins ago

      Havertz / Gyo. Pending last min news on who starts.

  9. Zoostation
    • 12 Years
    23 hours ago

    Done tinkering, good to go?

    Kinksy (Dubravka)

    Tarkowski Calafiori Shaw (Diop Thomas)

    B Fernandes Mbeumo Wirtz Tzolis (Slater)

    Haaland Pedro DCL

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 8 mins ago

      Nice team.
      Tark is different so I won’t try to change your mind
      GL

  10. Winston.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    22 hours, 57 mins ago

    Which one, if supposing A starts…?
    A. Jacquet
    B. Muharomevic

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      22 hours, 31 mins ago

      A

    2. Mozumbus
      • 5 Years
      22 hours, 26 mins ago

      B

    3. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      20 hours, 25 mins ago

      B

  11. Catona75
    • 5 Years
    22 hours, 50 mins ago

    Play Enzo Le Fee or Pascal Gross?

  12. Evasivo
    • 16 Years
    22 hours, 49 mins ago

    Is Isak not on Pens?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      22 hours, 33 mins ago

      I would expect so, but we have no confirmation

      1. Evasivo
        • 16 Years
        21 hours, 51 mins ago

        Damn, £9M too rich if he’s not

    2. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      21 hours, 32 mins ago

      I would be very surprised if he wasn't. A striker needs confidence more than he does oxygen and sending the goalie the wrong way from 12 yards out sets them up nicely for the rest of the game.

  13. Barnaby Wilde
    • 3 Years
    22 hours, 46 mins ago

    Groß and Vuskovic both played the full 90 yesterday. Does this put them at risk of being benched for GW1 ?

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 10 Years
      22 hours, 42 mins ago

      No it doesn't

    2. GREEN JUMPERS
      • 6 Years
      22 hours, 34 mins ago

      It's not ideal, is it, plastic pitch far away and all that. Wouldn't be surprised if Gross was an impact sub on Sunday

  14. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 9 Years
    22 hours, 45 mins ago

    BB1 GTG?

    Verbruggen - Kinsky
    Calafiori - Maguire - Vuskovic - Hume - Ajer
    Mbeumo - Rogers - Szoboszlai - Tzolis - Odegaard
    Haaland - Thiago - Pedro

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      22 hours, 34 mins ago

      GTG

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 21 mins ago

      That’s a different approach to 3 Arsenal picks and Rogers from the get go too.
      GW3 you can hope for high scoring Che and Ars I suppose

    3. who the Ozil r u
      • 14 Years
      21 hours, 59 mins ago

      I like it and have something a bit similar, but do you think it will be a benching headache?

  15. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    22 hours, 43 mins ago

    Is Slater nailed to start?

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      22 hours, 34 mins ago

      As far as we know, if how long dunno

  16. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    22 hours, 35 mins ago

    Which one?

    A. Vuskovic, Anderson, Sangare
    B. Kadioglu, Sarr, Ndiaye

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 23 mins ago

      B if you can hide Sarr in 2

  17. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    22 hours, 30 mins ago

    GTG for this non BB team

    Kinsky Verbruggen
    Thomas Calafiori Gvardiol Mitchell Shaw
    Mbeumo Semenyo Szoboszial Tzolis Ndiaye
    Pedro Haaland Thiago

    Any ideas will be appreciated

    1. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      22 hours, 28 mins ago

      If non BB, too much dosh on the bench.

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 26 mins ago

      Looks good.
      So this week you bench Mitchell and Thomas and who else Ndiaye ?
      Why bother with 2 keepers I am
      Going just Kinsky and get Shaw to maguire or Mitchell upgrade

  18. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    22 hours, 30 mins ago

    Any better rotating 4.5 options than
    Ajer and Rodon?

    1. GREEN JUMPERS
      • 6 Years
      22 hours, 27 mins ago

      Both solid, I think. I have Shaw tho for first 2 fixtures

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        22 hours, 17 mins ago

        Cheers

  19. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    22 hours, 29 mins ago

    At least the utd game is too early for me to watch with no Bruno.

  20. GREEN JUMPERS
    • 6 Years
    22 hours, 29 mins ago

    Play Leno (CHE) or Kinsky (bre)? Leaning Kinsky because I have J Pedro but maybe I shouldn't factor that..

    1. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 20 mins ago

      I think Kinsky whether you have Pedro or not.

    2. #1 Arne Engels Fan
      • 2 Years
      22 hours, 9 mins ago

      Would could possibly possess you to own Leno in the first place?

      1. GREEN JUMPERS
        • 6 Years
        10 hours, 30 mins ago

        A Cornish New Zealander with a parrot put me up to it

  21. Kane Train
    • 11 Years
    22 hours, 17 mins ago

    Is anyone confident Mbeumo is actually safe for minutes?

    Amad, Rashford, Cunha, Sesko, Zirkzee, Dorgu &Mount
    A lot of mouths to feed. Got rotation written all over it.

    1. Holmes
      • 12 Years
      22 hours, 15 mins ago

      yes, atleast for GW1-2

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      22 hours, 13 mins ago

      I think he get start 1 and 2 but probably off between 70 and 80

    3. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      21 hours, 40 mins ago

      I owned Mbeumo for far too long a time earlier this year and it was a profoundly harrowing experience. Those months of personal torture are truly unforgettable and I wouldn't have him in my squad even if his first two games were against ladies cricket teams.

  22. The Philosopher
    • 6 Years
    22 hours, 11 mins ago

    Hinselwood a better option than Gross?

    1. David Parkinson
      • 4 Years
      21 hours, 59 mins ago

      Yes, if you can easily afford.

  23. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    22 hours, 10 mins ago

    Best GK combo - 4.5m Forget and Set/4.0

    Verbruggen & Steele
    Kinsky & Dubravka

    Any ideas would be appreciated

    1. #1 Arne Engels Fan
      • 2 Years
      22 hours, 7 mins ago

      2nd one. Brighton will leak goals for fun

    2. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      21 hours, 51 mins ago

      I've got Verbs & Petrovic as they offer (for the most part) a really nice home/home rotation

  24. Kane Train
    • 11 Years
    22 hours, 6 mins ago

    Is Luke Shaw nailed?

    1. David Parkinson
      • 4 Years
      22 hours, 2 mins ago

      Yes, unless they buy a good LB.

  25. SpaceCadet
    • 12 Years
    22 hours, 5 mins ago

    Best 4.5m mid option?

    1. David Parkinson
      • 4 Years
      22 hours, 2 mins ago

      Slater safer and Hemmings if you are braver.

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        21 hours, 48 mins ago

        Thanks

  26. HollywoodXI
    • 12 Years
    22 hours, 4 mins ago

    RMT? BB1, FH3, WC 4/5

    Verbruggen
    Calafiori White O’Reilly Maguire
    Bruno Mbeumo Szoboslai Semenyo
    Thiago Pedro

    Kinsky DCL Tzolis Neco Williams

  27. SomeoneKnows
    • 10 Years
    21 hours, 56 mins ago

    Which combo (BB1 so both play)?

    A) Muhamerovic + Hume
    B) Rodon + Ballard

  28. Emiliano Sala
    • 10 Years
    21 hours, 52 mins ago

    Gakpo or szobo?

  29. Holmes
    • 12 Years
    21 hours, 52 mins ago

    The day is here...

  30. Brosstan
    • 12 Years
    21 hours, 51 mins ago

    Pants down for the first time of the season in 3.. 2...