Auction Academy · Strategy
Premier League auction season preview for 2026/27
The 2026/27 Premier League season began on 21 August and ends on 30 May. For an auction manager, the useful pre-season job is not naming a perfect squad. It is finding the roles where the room may disagree, writing down what would change your mind and setting a price you can live with.
Start with role changes, not a list of fashionable names
A new club, a new manager or one injured teammate can change a player's minutes, position or set-piece share. That is worth studying. A large transfer fee or a noisy social clip is not enough on its own.
Make a short list of questions. Who is likely to lead the line? Which wide player is actually getting into the box? Who takes penalties or corners when the usual player is absent? You are looking for a reason your group might price a player differently from you.
Three current situations to investigate
The Premier League's pre-season report put Christos Tzolis in Arsenal's left-sided attack after a strong summer of assists. It also reported that Joao Pedro had scored seven pre-season goals for Chelsea. Both are reasons to check the latest line-ups and competition for places, not reasons to announce a winning bid before the auction starts.
At Brighton, the same report described Maxim De Cuyper playing high on the left in one friendly. A defender with an advanced role can be valuable under some scoring systems. First confirm the listed position in your league, the expected minutes and whether that role survived the next match.
Write the evidence beside the name and date it. If team news changes before auction day, cross it out. The point is to arrive with a view that can move when the facts move.
Set a price band before the room sets a price
Give each player a low, fair and walk-away number. The low number is where you would be pleased to buy. The fair number is where you still prefer the player to your next option. The walk-away number is where the rest of your squad becomes worse if you win.
Do not borrow prices from FPL, a different auction, or a screenshot from a league with another scoring system. Auction League starts every manager with the same £100m, but your own room creates the price. A £20m player in one group can be a £12m player in another without either group being wrong.
Common questions
Is this a list of 2026/27 auction picks?
No. It is a dated watchlist of situations to check. Player roles, injuries and transfers can change quickly, and a football opportunity may not fit your league's scoring.
When should I refresh a season-preview shortlist?
Refresh it after meaningful team news, confirmed transfers or the final pre-season matches, then once more on the morning of your auction. Keep the reason for every change.
Put the plan into practice
Read six real auction prices from our founding league.
Ready to bring your group? Run your auction, then enter the final squads in the app.
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