Team guides · Man Utd
Man Utd FPL team guide 2026/27
Squad, fixture runs and rotation partners
Squad leaders
The fastest routes into this club's player pool.
Points and form from 2025/26.
Schedule pulse
Difficulty across the next 5 listed fixtures.
Attack vs defence
Bawler's own split — the same run can be kind to one end and cruel to the other.
Rated 1 (easiest) to 5 from the opponent's attacking and defensive strength, not the official single number. How it's built →
Squad
34 players in the FPL game, by position.
| Player | Owned | Pts | xPts | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| LammensNailed | 3.6% | 109 | 3.19 | £5.1 |
| Bayindir | 0.3% | 11 | — | £4.7 |
| Mee | 0.1% | 0 | — | £3.9 |
| HeatonFringe | 0.6% | 0 | 0.00 | £3.8 |
| Defenders | ||||
| MazraouiRotation | 0.3% | 53 | 1.11 | £4.9 |
| De LigtOUT | 1.8% | 43 | 0.00 | £4.9 |
| Martinez75% | 0.4% | 51 | 1.72 | £4.8 |
| Shaw | 1.1% | 113 | 2.27 | £4.5 |
| Dalot | 3.8% | 111 | 2.49 | £4.5 |
| MaguireBattle | 1.7% | 90 | 1.72 | £4.4 |
| DorguRotation | 2.4% | 95 | 1.11 | £4.1 |
| YoroBattle | 1.2% | 56 | 1.79 | £4.1 |
| D.Leon | 0.1% | 0 | — | £4.1 |
| Kukonki | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.0 |
| HeavenBackup | 2.6% | 42 | 0.55 | £3.7 |
| Malacia | 0.6% | 3 | — | £3.7 |
| FredricsonFringe | 0.2% | 1 | 0.15 | £3.7 |
| Midfielders | ||||
| B.FernandesNailed | 48.0% | 235 | 5.04 | £10.4 |
| MbeumoNailed | 15.0% | 148 | 4.21 | £8.3 |
| Cunha | 8.7% | 143 | 3.19 | £8.1 |
| AmadBattle | 1.3% | 91 | 1.62 | £6.2 |
| Mount75% | 0.3% | 58 | 0.53 | £5.9 |
| Casemiro | 3.8% | 165 | — | £5.8 |
| Mainoo | 1.4% | 73 | 2.34 | £4.7 |
| UgarteOUT | 0.1% | 38 | 0.00 | £4.7 |
| LaceyFringe | 0.0% | 3 | 0.24 | £4.5 |
| Bendito MantatoFringe | 0.0% | 1 | 0.11 | £4.5 |
| Thwaites | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.5 |
| FletcherFringe | 0.0% | 2 | 0.18 | £4.4 |
| J.FletcherFringe | 0.1% | 3 | 0.18 | £4.3 |
| Fitzgerald | 0.0% | 0 | — | £4.3 |
| Forwards | ||||
| Šeško75% | 4.6% | 111 | 2.53 | £7.2 |
| ZirkzeeRotation | 0.4% | 42 | 1.17 | £5.8 |
| ObiFringe | 1.4% | 0 | 0.15 | £4.2 |
Points from 2025/26. xPts is Bawler's projected points per gameweek — fixture-adjusted and weighted by how likely the player is to start. Full projections →
Rotation partners
Own one from each pair and start whichever has the kinder week.
Scored by taking the easier of the two clubs' fixtures each gameweek across the listed horizon.
Fixture run
Every listed fixture ahead, coloured by official FPL difficulty.
Latest updates
Mount was withdrawn after 18 minutes of the 1-1 draw with PSG on 8 Aug and subsequently missed training on the Monday and Tuesday, ruling him out of Croke Park. Carrick said: "He got kicked. We just wanted to be careful and look after him." United describe the absence as precautionary.
FPL: Minimal direct impact given he is a bench option, but it further thins midfield cover behind Bruno Fernandes and Cunha for the opening weeks.
Šeško was absent from both the XI and the bench at Croke Park, extending a run of missing every pre-season friendly with the shin problem he aggravated against Liverpool in May. United believe there is a chance he features against Milan on 15 Aug and remain confident he is fit for the 22 Aug opener at Hull.
FPL: He is likely to enter GW1 with zero pre-season minutes, so a managed workload or bench start is a live risk even if declared fit. Treat early-season minutes as uncertain rather than assuming a full 90.
Carrick told MUTV pre-match: "Marcus, Licha and Kobbie aren't quite ready yet. We're preserving them for this weekend." All three are late World Cup returners rather than injured — Martinez played in the final. Post-match Carrick said of Rashford: "He's our player. He's come back great... he's trained only two or three days and it's all normal."
FPL: Confirms the three are fitness-ramping, not frozen out, and are due minutes vs Milan on 15 Aug. Martinez and Mainoo should be available for the Hull opener; Rashford's inclusion is now a role question, not a transfer one.
Carrick named Lammens; Dalot (c), Yoro, Heaven, Amass; T. Fletcher, Santos; Amad, Zirkzee, Dorgu; Mbeumo in the 12 Aug friendly in Dublin. Zirkzee scored from a Mbeumo assist; Aaronson equalised. Bruno Fernandes, Tielemans and Cunha were introduced together on the hour, with Mazraoui converting the winning penalty.
FPL: Low signal for GW1 shape — this was a deliberate rotation game with the Milan friendly (15 Aug) as the real dress rehearsal. Zirkzee's start and goal are cover-only while Šeško is absent, not a promotion.
Sesko has sat out all four pre-season fixtures (Wrexham, Rosenborg, Atletico Madrid, PSG) with a shin complaint he aggravated in the 3-2 win over Liverpool on 3 May. MEN's Steven Railston reports he has stepped up rehab at Carrington, will join the Ireland camp, and United hope he can play some minutes against AC Milan on 15 August.
FPL: Sesko is still expected to be fit for GW1 but will arrive with zero pre-season minutes, so early-season load management or a bench start is a real risk for anyone buying him for the opener.
Speaking after the 1-1 friendly draw with PSG, Carrick said United will have their entire group together for the Ireland camp: 'We have got a full squad this week in Dublin.' Martinez, Mainoo, Rashford and Cunha have all completed extended post-World Cup breaks and are available for the Leeds friendly on 12 August, ahead of AC Milan on 15 August and the Hull opener on 22 August.
FPL: Removes the post-World Cup availability cloud over Martinez and Mainoo with two friendlies left to build up — both are live picks for the GW1 trip to Hull.
Barcelona declined their €30m option after his loan (14 goals in 49 apps), so Rashford returned to Carrington and has been given the No.14 shirt, with Matheus Cunha keeping No.10. Carrick has confirmed he travels with the squad to Dublin and is in line for minutes against Leeds at Croke Park on 12 August — his first United involvement since December 2024.
FPL: Rashford is a genuine squad option again rather than an absentee, but Carrick offered no guarantees on a starting role, so treat him as a rotation punt until he actually starts.
Tracked daily from cited sources. News for every club is on team news.
Manager & style
Reverted United from Amorim's back three to a traditional back four in a 4-2-3-1 — the shape he used in 120 of his 136 Middlesbrough matches. Two ball-playing pivots, play routed through the middle, and Bruno Fernandes given licence to hit through balls. NOT a high-pressing coach: United sit patiently in a mid/low block with wingers dropping onto the flanks and the striker plus No.10 cutting passing lanes, then spring counters or seek a killer central pass. Described as measured, conservative football that gets results. In possession it can become a 3-2-5 with advancing full-backs; he has also used 4-3-1-2 and a 4-3-2-1 'Christmas tree'. Rotation tendency unverified, but Champions League football returns this season.
Usual shape: 4-2-3-1 primary; 3-2-5 in possession; 4-3-3 used in pre-season friendlies
Summer transfers
In
| Player | Pos | From | Fee | Expected role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Santos | CM | Chelsea | £48m rising to £50m with add-ons (13 July 2026) — Wikipedia lists £48m, TeamTalk £48m + £2m add-ons, an earlier report said £50m | Starting central midfielder; started both pre-season friendlies in the double pivot |
| Youri Tielemans | CM | Aston Villa | £35m (release clause activated, 14 July 2026) | Starting/rotating central midfielder; Belgium captain, five-year deal |
| Tynan Thompson | Winger | Tottenham Hotspur | £4m plus £4m add-ons (20 July 2026) | 18-year-old prospect, future-proofing the attack |
| Karl Darlow | GK | Leeds United | Free (14 July 2026) | Backup goalkeeper on a two-year deal with an option; currently recovering from a minor procedure |
| Kit Margetson | GK | Swansea City | Undisclosed (27 July 2026) | Youth goalkeeper |
Out
| Player | Pos | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmus Hojlund | ST | Napoli | Loan made permanent — Wikipedia: £43.2m loan fee plus £38m obligation; TeamTalk: £44m permanent. Sources conflict on the structure and total |
| Casemiro | CM | Inter Miami | Released at contract end (22 July 2026) |
| Jadon Sancho | Winger | Free agent | Released |
| Tyrell Malacia | LB | Free agent | Released |
| Andre Onana | GK | Trabzonspor (loan extended, 3 July 2026) | Loan |
| Sekou Kone | CM | Lausanne-Sport (loan, 24 July 2026) | Loan |
| Solomon Honor | GK | Southport (loan) | Loan |
| Elyh Harrison | GK | Greenock Morton (loan) | Loan |
| James Bailey | CM | Stockport County | Released |
Current injuries
| Player | Issue | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Matthijs de Ligt | Back surgery; has not played since November 2025 | Unlikely before autumn 2026 — expected to miss the opening weeks of the season |
| Manuel Ugarte | Knee injury sustained in the World Cup group stage v Spain | Reported to miss the majority of the campaign. SINGLE-SOURCE — treat with caution |
| Benjamin Sesko | Shin injury — missed the first two pre-season friendlies | Back training on the grass as of 26 July; expected to be available for the opener but needs conditioning work |
| Lisandro Martinez | Knock sustained in the World Cup final | Not considered serious; expected fit for the Premier League opener |
| Karl Darlow | Minor procedure at the end of last season | No date reported |
Injury picture as of 30 July 2026 — availability moves fast in pre-season, so confirm against official team news.
Expected XI & selection battles
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (projection). The actual XI v Rosenborg on 24 July was 4-3-3: Vitek; Yoro, Heaven, Maguire, Shaw; Santos, Mount; Dorgu, Lacey, Mbeumo; Zirkzee — but that was without World Cup returnees
- GK Senne Lammens (described as first-choice; ESPN still lists Altay Bayindir as No.1 — see battles)
- RB Noussair Mazraoui — or Leny Yoro
- CB Lisandro Martinez
- CB Harry Maguire (De Ligt out)
- LB Luke Shaw — or Patrick Dorgu
- CM Bruno Fernandes (Carrick has used him deeper than a No.10)
- CM Andrey Santos — or Youri Tielemans / Kobbie Mainoo
- RW Bryan Mbeumo
- AM Matheus Cunha
- LW Amad Diallo — or Patrick Dorgu
- ST Benjamin Sesko (fitness-dependent) — or Joshua Zirkzee
Battles to watch
- Striker: Sesko vs Zirkzee. Hojlund has left permanently, Sesko is only just back from a shin problem, and United are still openly hunting a new centre-forward
- Double pivot: Bruno plus one of Santos, Tielemans, Mainoo — three senior signings/options for one place, with Ugarte injured
- Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens is described as first choice by beat reporting, but Bayindir holds the No.1 shirt and Radek Vitek started both friendlies. Genuinely unresolved from open sources
- Left-back: Luke Shaw vs Patrick Dorgu vs Diego Leon — United are reported to be targeting Newcastle's Lewis Hall for left-back depth
- Where Bruno plays: PL analysis says Carrick uses him deeper/box-to-box rather than at No.10, with Cunha as the tactical focal point in the 10
- Marcus Rashford's place — Barcelona let their EUR30m option expire on 15 June and he is expected to stay
Set-piece takers
FPL winners & losers
Research calls from the sources below, not model output — the model's numbers for these players are on predicted points.
Key uncertainties
The honest list — what this guide could not pin down as of 30 July 2026. Any of these can change the FPL picture before Gameweek 1:
- Manager appointment framing: the Premier League lists Carrick as appointed 13 January 2026 replacing Amorim; Wikipedia records the permanent two-year contract as announced 22 May 2026. Both are correct (interim then permanent) but the 'appointed' date differs by source
- No centre-forward has been signed despite Hojlund's permanent exit — United are reported to want one, plus a midfielder and left-back depth, before 1 September
- Goalkeeper No.1 is not cleanly established from open sources (Lammens vs Bayindir; Vitek started both friendlies)
- Sesko's conditioning — he is back on the grass but reported as needing to 'slim down' during full training
- Ugarte's timeline is single-sourced
- Whether Bruno Fernandes plays as a deep-lying midfielder or a No.10 materially changes his goal threat (his assist and penalty output should hold either way)
- Champions League football returns after a 3rd-place finish, adding rotation risk from the group stage onward
- Hojlund's transfer structure is reported differently by Wikipedia and TeamTalk
- GW1 is away at newly promoted Hull City, Saturday 22 August 12:30
Sources
- Manchester United pre-season update: Transfers, injuries and Marcus Rashford's situation (The National) — 2026-07-26
- Every Man Utd done deal in the summer 2026 transfer window (TeamTalk) — 2026-07-24
- Manchester United XI vs Rosenborg: Confirmed team news (Yahoo Sports) — 2026-07-24
- Man United pre-season 2026: Fixture schedule, predicted XI, injured stars (ManUtdNews) — 2026-07-17
- Manager line-up complete for 2026/27 season (Premier League official) — 2026-07-13
- 2026-27 Manchester United F.C. season (Wikipedia) — 2026-07
A point-in-time research snapshot compiled 30 July 2026, showing the six most recent of the sources the research drew on. It does not update in real time — line-ups, fitness and transfers can all move before the deadline, so always confirm against official team news. All 20 club guides are on team guides.
FPL is a free fantasy game — this is squad research, not betting advice.
Updated 13 August 2026, 07:21 UK · Source: Official FPL API