Supercoach EPL 2025/26: Forwards Analysis

Must-Have

Erling Haaland ($11.57m)

In City’s worst season this decade – the Norwegian superstar still banged in 22 goals in 31 games – it’s a solid return in anyone’s language, albeit a little disappointing given the ridiculous return he managed in his first season.

So why is he my only must-have?

City will improve.

There were already signs they were returning to their old selves toward the end of last season, going on a run of 10 games without defeat to finish the season, and, although Haaland missed the entire month of April, he showed during the Club World Cup that those injury worries seemed to be a thing of the past.

At the price point, he’s a must-have.

City doesn’t have the most straightforward fixture to start the season, but that will give a nice gauge of exactly where Haaland is at.

If he starts hot, he will stay hot lest injury strike the Norwegian robot down.

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Guns that I couldn’t talk you out of

Mohamed Salah – $15.55m

The leading goal scorer and defining player of last season, after many had written him off.

I couldn’t talk you out of Mohammed Salah, even at the most expensive price in the league to start the season.

The reason I’m staying away is purely the incredibly high numbers he’ll need to hit in order to retain any sort of early-season value.

I have no doubt his price will drop at some stage this season, and it’s very likely at that point I’ll be jumping in.

I’m also a little nervous about exactly how Liverpool will line up with links to Alexander Isak still rumbling through the English press.

I have little doubt Salah will be in my side at some stage this season, but with Newcastle away and a date with Arsenal’s defence in the opening three weeks, I’m getting a little greedy and holding out hope I’ll be able to get a discount a few games in.

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Alexander Isak – $11.61m

Only Mbeumo and Salah would have scored higher than Alexander Isak last season – he’s the striker many count as the most complete in the Premier League.

But, a turbulent off-season that has seen him called into training by Eddie Howe while the rest of the squad have days off doesn’t lend itself to a strong start.

He could prove everyone wrong and start against Villa on the opening day and bang in a hat-trick to prove everyone silly.

But until he’s either settled back in on Tyneside or standing outside Anfield in a Liverpool kit, I’ll be staying away.

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Bukayo Saka – $10.47m

He is the key to all the good that Arsenal do and, rather annoyingly (but correctly), he is classified as a forward by SuperCoach – unlike our friends over at FPL who handily classify him as a midfielder.

I was tempted after the signing of Gyokores finally went through, but I’m happy to sit and watch for the moment, given a tricky fixture to start the season and the uncertainty over who partners him upfront.

At a touch over $10mil and a break-even of 10 over the first two weeks, I’m quietly confident he might just offer up at a better price at some point down the track if you are super keen to have him in your side.

Full SuperCoach EPL Coverage:

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• Supercoach EPL 2025/26: Forwards Analysis

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Mid-Rangers

Ollie Watkins – $8.3m

After 3 consistent seasons with Villa in the Premier League, the now England International is the mid-ranger I would feel most confident investing in to begin the season.

That was if the speculation around a potential move to Manchester United would abate for a moment, given the Red Devils’ litany of wasted talent.

Despite that, in my drafts to this point, I’ve almost always found a way to include Watkins because if he does remain (which I still think is the most likely outcome), the attack will be based around getting him the ball as much as possible now that John Duran and Marcus Rashford have departed.

Donyell Marlen remains, but with the Europa League group stages not meaning quite as much as the Champions League did last season, Watkins will be saved for the league.

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Florian Wirtz – $8m

Has captured the imagination of the Reds fans, which is no surprise after the club record signing from Bayer Leverkusen.

This makes the price point such an attraction, particularly given the fact that he averaged just shy of a goal or assist every game for Leverkusen last season.

It’s a step up but one the German is bound to make with flying colours.

I have him just behind Watkins as my favoured mid-range option up front.

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Viktor Gyökeres – $7.5m

The off-season signing from Sporting Club has been one of the most talked about in English Football, given Arsenal’s long-held need for a proper finisher.

Brighton’s identification of him as a youngster tells me he’ll be suited to the English game, and his return of 68 goals in 66 games for Sporting over two seasons is difficult to ignore.

Can’t talk you out of him as a solid option, particularly if he ends up taking on penalty duties from Saka as Mikel Arteta hinted at last week.

Regardless, he’s a very solid option.

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Joao Pedro – $8.44m

Came off the beach to play a big hand in Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph and was spectacular at times for Brighton last season.

Mid-season was riddled with inconsistency before a complete switch before the end of the season with the Seagulls.

For that reason, I can’t have him in from the start – especially before we see just how Chelsea get into the rigours of their season with another new look line-up that played deep into the summer.

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Morgan Rogers – $7.76m

If you’re not keen on Watkins because of the uncertainty over his future, why not go for his free-scoring teammate who was just as good last season.

He will also save you a few $$$ while doing it.

He’s got a free run in the first team after Rashford’s departure as well.

Chelsea are trying to get their hands on him, but according to reports out of the UK this week, Villa are set to upgrade his contract and get at least another 6 months out of him before selling him for a tidy profit.

SuperCoach managers may be able to do the same if they jump on early enough.

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Cheapies

Rasmus Højlund – $3.9m

Third most-owned forward in the game two weeks out from the opening weekend, and with good reason.

His underwhelming performances last season mean he comes in at the same price as Patrick Bamford and Wilson Odobert.

He’ll play more and score more than those two throughout this season, with no direct competition at United at the time of writing. (That could change if they do end up getting Watkins.)

The fact now is that he’ll have supply from Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo, and nobody is expecting United to be quite as bad after a full pre-season under Ruben Amorim.

Marc Guiu – $3.75m

The 19-year-old Chelsea striker has completed his loan move to Sunderland and is set to feature heavily in the newly promoted side’s campaign to stay up.

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Avoid

Bryan Mbeumo – $12.38m

Would have been the 2nd highest scorer in the league last season, but unfortunately, Man United has been a graveyard for signings, just like the talented Cameroonian, for the past decade.

At the price point, he needs to buck the recent United trend of big-money signings and hit form immediately to be worth taking the risk on in the early going.

Kai Havertz – $10.14m

His spot is now right under threat at Arsenal after the signing of Gyokores, especially when you consider how Arteta has struggled to get his side to consistently function around the German for the past few seasons.

There’s no doubt there’s still plenty to offer in the Premier League, but quite how far that translates in a SuperCoach sense is debatable.

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Chris Wood – $9.55m

I am obliged to say I love the Kiwi as a footballer and as a personality.

Last year was the best of his long career, and to repeat the trick is going to be doubly difficult given Forest’s over-performance as a squad last season.

Having said that, it’s harder to talk you out of him now that Morgan Gibbs-White has been retained.

I will still try to, though.

Don’t do it.

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Yoane Wissa – $9.56m

Last year’s 20-goal return was another nod to Brentford’s remarkable scouting system, but the relationship has turned sour over the summer with the Congolese striker saying he would never play for the Bees again as he tried to force a move to Newcastle.

With long-time manager Thomas Frank now at Spurs, new boss Keith Andrews has a big job on his hands to keep Brentford on track and, regardless of where Wissa ends up, that means last year’s star is a no-go for us this season.