The new season in England’s top flight starts tonight and that means the long-awaited return of Fantasy Premier League.

Many players will have already picked their squads for the opening gameweek of the 2024-25 campaign, though even at this stage, new signings and potential injuries might change things – or just a sudden hit of inspiration after reading a list of the best signings, perhaps.

The usual suspects — the likes of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah — will be among the most popular picks. But there are plenty of other players across the Premier League who might offer genuine value this season.

And most importantly, with a Friday night kick-off, the deadline for gameweek 1 is fast approaching – so remember to join your mini-leagues beforehand!

Here is everything you need to know on the deadline plus 30 players we think might solid additions to any FPL side.

One more to add to that Fulham exit list!

Brazil international Willian is leaving Fulham after two years at the Premier League club, the 36-year-old said on Friday.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea player signed a one-year contract extension at Fulham last year, which has now expired. Reports in the British media have linked him with a move to Saudi Arabia.

“I would like to thank Fulham for a wonderful two years. It was special to return to the Premier League and be part of this historic club and the amazing fans,” Willian wrote on Instagram.

“I have had incredible moments and this club will always be in my heart.”

Willian, who plays as a left winger or attacking midfielder, made 58 Premier League appearances during his Fulham stay, scoring nine goals.

He scored in a 2-1 win against his former club Chelsea in January 2023, helping Fulham to get their first league victory over their West London rivals in 17 years.

Fulham begin their Premier League campaign at Manchester United later on Friday.

Tonight’s focus has been somewhat on Man United…but have opponents Fulham done enough this summer? Joao Palhinha is a huge loss…and we don’t yet know how well Emile Smith Rowe will bounce back from two years of barely any football, either.

• Ryan Sessegnon – Tottenham, free
• Emile Smith Rowe – Arsenal, £34m
• Jorge Cuenca – Villarreal, undisclosed

• Tim Ream – Charlotte FC, undisclosed
• Joao Palhinha – Bayern Munich, £47.4m
• Bobby Decordova-Reid – Leicester, free
• Tyrese Francois – Wigan, free
• George Okkas – Rio Ave, free
• Tosin – Chelsea, free
• George Wickens – Lincoln, undisclosed
• Marek Rodak – Released
• Terence Kongolo – Released
• Luciano D’Auria-Henry – Released
• Caelan Avenell – Released
• Ma’Kel Bogle-Campbell – Released
• Montague Conway – Released
• Matt Dibley-Dias – Northampton, loan
• Devan Tanton – Chesterfield, loan
• Luke Harris – Birmingham, loan
• Olly Sanderson – Bradford, loan
• Kieron Bowie – Hibernian, undisclosed
• Harvey Araujo – Chesterfield, loan

A quick break from the Premier League and a word from the new interim England boss, Lee Carsley – who has said that he wants to put his “own stamp” on the team as he prepares to take charge of the senior squad for the first time.

And speaking to the FA’s in-house media channel, Carsley said that this role is “a very prestigious job following Gareth and Steve [Holland] and the great job that they have done”.

“First and foremost, it’s getting the squad together and picking the right players while trying to get a balance between making sure it’s fresh and competitive but understanding that there are games that we need to do well in and win.

“It’s important that we put our own stamp on the squad and make some adjustments, but also to realise that a lot of the players have done really well in the past and we have to acknowledge that.”

Carsley will be looking to emulate the success of his predecessor, and potentially go one step further if he ends up staying in the job.

“I’ve got a relationship with those players and have known them quite a few years,” Carsley said.

“There’s players that I don’t know as well, but I’m very much aware of them and I think we’ve got some outstanding players in the senior team.

“In the pathway, the level of players over the years has really improved and you can see that by the way we’ve done in major tournaments. The next step is winning, and that’s got to be the objective.”

Erik ten Hag dismissed suggestions he prefers players with experience of Dutch football after Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui became the latest to join Manchester United this week.

The defenders completed moves from Bayern Munich to Old Trafford on Tuesday, linking back up with their former Ajax manager ahead of the Premier League opener against Fulham.

Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez and Antony also played under Ten Hag in Amsterdam, while former loanee Sofyan Amrabat was managed by him at Utrecht.

Tyrell Malacia, Wout Weghorst and Joshua Zirkzee hail from the Netherlands, plus Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount played there, meaning 11 of the 20 signings made his since appointment in 2022 have a Dutch association.

Asked if that background was something he favoured or just a coincidence, Ten Hag said: “No, no, not for favourite. First of all, it’s club decisions. None of them is only my decision.

“It’s always backed or even brought up through the scouting, recruitment, the technical director, the sporting director.

“It’s a decision made by more than only one but, yeah, some you know, the players and personalities, and also it has to fit also in the finance.”

There are only a handful of people who know exactly what is happening in the Manchester City case and one of them had to promote the new Premier League season this week.

“It’s clear we have some regulatory challenges,” competition chief executive Richard Masters said. “But I’m confident we can navigate all of that and, by the time we sit down again in 12 months, a lot of that stuff will be clearer and we can have the way we always want it, which is the football front and centre.”

It’s quite a hopeful spin that is perhaps natural from the world’s most bombastic league, especially since this season could involve a storm like no other. This could well be the most controversial and consequential campaign in the English game’s history, that reaches both Bosman and Italy’s Calciopoli in terms of its effects. It could change the face of the table, the future, the past, as well as the Premier League’s very image. An outcome of the City case is expected by April, but any time that late is almost even worse for the Premier League.

There is a striking thought, that feels like it hasn’t been fully grasped as pundits talk about whether Pep Guardiola must sign another forward.

If the repeat champions are found guilty, it could mean the main title challengers suddenly drop right down the table or even be expelled. It’s why this really has to be discussed before any other football this season, as the English game faces a truly unprecedented situation. If it does get to that, it will bring doubt on all of their titles going back to the start of the period covered by these 100-plus charges. Even if City are found not guilty, or any sanction is deemed too soft, the fervent feeling among rivals could lead to civil war. Aside from the upheaval of financial rules, there is the possibility of open revolt from clubs who believe they can’t compete with a state-owned project.

Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney’s big Premier League preview:

Eddie Howe speaking on Newcastle’s ongoing transfer activity: “We’re hopeful. We’re working hard. There’s no lack of effort from outside but, as I said earlier, there’s nothing close.”

Howe declined to comment on Marc Guehi specifically – Crystal Palace reportedly rejected a third bid last night – but when asked if any deals were close, he said: “Not that I know of.”

Speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, as reports suggested the Magpies had made a fourth bid for the £65m-rated England international defender, head coach Howe admitted they would not be held to ransom over any player.

Asked if there was a time when the club would walk away from a deal, he said: “We have done many times in my time here, especially early on where there was very much a ‘Newcastle tax’ on any deal where when we would ring up, the price would double, so many times we were, ‘No, that’s not for us, we’re not going to go down that road where we feel we’re over-paying for players’.

“That’s changed slightly because people have seen the dynamic, that we’re not going to pay silly fees for players, so I think now it’s returned more to normality.”

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola knows his job has been made harder by Dominic Solanke’s departure but feels the imminent arrival of Brazil striker Evanilson will help take the club forward.

Solanke completed his switch to Tottenham last week in a deal which could eventually be worth £65million.

The sale of Bournemouth’s top scorer, who netted 21 goals in all competitions last season, will be offset somewhat by the signing of Evanilson from Porto, with the reported fee an initial £31.7m as part of a club-record £40.2m transfer.

Should all the paperwork be completed in time, Evanilson could feature in Saturday’s opening Premier League game at Nottingham Forest.

Iraola, though, knows replacing Solanke will be a tough ask.

“For us without Dom, my job is going to be more difficult because he is a hell of a player,” the Bournemouth boss said at a press conference.

“But there is also a personal side, that you want the best for him. We will want him to score a lot of goals, to beat every opposition, to be as good as he is.

“I am sure he will be because his behaviour has always been top. It is not easy to score the goals he has scored, to have the performance he has had.

“For sure, he has had offers before, he was very happy here, he has been until the last day. It is also a good chance for him, but we wish him all the best.”

The deal for Evanilson, 24, would have to be completed by midday on Friday for the Brazilian to be involved at Forest.

“He has been here, he arrived last night, he has gone through all the medical stuff, but still he has things to do,” said Iraola.

“A lot of paperwork to do, so I don’t know really what’s going to be the process, when it’s ready.

“I cannot tell you if everything is going to be finished for tomorrow or not.”

Evanilson scored 13 league goals for Porto last season, including a hat-trick in the group stage of the Champions League against Royal Antwerp.

“He is still young, he has played Champions League football, has had experience with the national team,” Iraola said. “If we complete the signing, it will be a good signing for us.”

Bournemouth also confirmed the departure of midfielder Romain Faivre on loan to Ligue 1 club Brest.

Plenty of transfer rumours are persisting around the Premier League, with several teams needing to strengthen before the window closes at the end of the month.

Defending champions Man City are looking to recruit after losing Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid and Oscar Bobb to a leg fracture. Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with a move to Guardiola’s side, with other rumours suggesting that the Cityzens could also look to sign Crystal Palace’s Ebere Eze.

Arsenal continue to be frustrated in their pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, while they continue to look for suitors for Eddie Nketiah, who is valued at around £30m.

Liverpool were another club frustrated by Real Sociedad, with top summer target Martin Zubimendi eventually turning down the chance to play at Anfield (for now anyway). The Reds have been linked with Valencia ‘keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, though that signing would be one for the future with the Georgian likely to be immediately loaned out.

Tottenham have completed the signing of Wilson Odobert from Burnley. The 19-year-old forward has agreed a contract until 2029 and will wear the number 28 shirt at Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou’s team moved for Odobert after an encouraging debut campaign in England. Odobert made 32 appearances and scored four goals for Burnley after a move from Troyes, but was unable to keep them in the Premier League.

The French winger will now swap the Clarets’ promotion bid in the Championship for life back in the top flight at Tottenham, who will also compete in the Europa League this season.

Reports suggest Spurs have paid around £25m for Odobert, following on from the arrivals of £60m Dominic Solanke, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and the extension of Timo Werner’s loan.