Transfer and FPL information checked: 1 August 2026
Nottingham Forest have signed Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager on a two-year contract.
He becomes Oliver Glasner's first Forest signing and reunites with the coach after previously working under him at Wolfsburg.
Official FPL analysis lists Schlager at £5.0m.
That price is attractive, but managers must distinguish between being an important real-life midfielder and being a strong Fantasy selection.
Schlager's FPL profile
| Category | Current information |
|---|---|
| Club | Nottingham Forest |
| Previous club | RB Leipzig |
| FPL position | Midfielder |
| FPL price | £5.0m |
| Contract | Two years |
| Previous relationship | Worked with Oliver Glasner at Wolfsburg |
| Recent club appearances | 30 in 2025/26 |
| World Cup | Started all four Austria matches |
| Main strengths | Pressing, energy, recoveries and ball progression |
| Main FPL concern | Limited direct goals and assists |
Use the OneFPL Player Lab to confirm his live availability and ownership.
Is Schlager a direct replacement for Elliot Anderson?
Not exactly.
Anderson left Forest for Manchester City after becoming a major FPL performer through secure minutes, attacking involvement and defensive contributions.
Schlager can replace part of Anderson's midfield work, particularly:
- Pressing
- Recoveries
- Tackles
- Central intensity
- Ball progression
- Protection of the defence
He may not replace Anderson's full attacking output.
Forest can redistribute that responsibility across Schlager, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ryan Yates, Ibrahim Sangare and the wing-backs.
Why Glasner matters
Schlager has already worked under Glasner.
That familiarity can improve his chance of understanding:
- Pressing triggers
- Central-midfield spacing
- Transition defence
- When to support attacks
- The coach's physical expectations
A new signing who already understands the manager may settle faster than one learning the system from the beginning.
It does not guarantee a Gameweek 1 start after a demanding World Cup summer.
Possible tactical role
Glasner has frequently used a back-three structure.
Schlager can operate in a central pair behind the attacking midfielders.
Deeper midfielder
He protects the defence and collects recoveries.
This supports minutes and defensive contributions but limits goal threat.
Box-to-box midfielder
He presses higher and supports attacks.
This creates a better balance of contributions and occasional attacking returns.
Aggressive pressing midfielder
He steps forward to disrupt build-up and create turnovers.
This can indirectly help Gibbs-White and Chris Wood through better attacking field position.
Defensive-contribution potential
Midfielders can earn defensive-contribution points after reaching the relevant action threshold.
Schlager's style naturally produces:
- Tackles
- Interceptions
- Ball recoveries
- Duels
- Clearances in defensive phases
The Premier League is a new environment, so his actual action totals must be monitored rather than assumed.
At £5.0m, contribution points can make him a useful bench midfielder when he also receives reliable appearance points.
Attacking ceiling
Schlager should not be selected primarily for goals and assists.
His role is more likely to involve moving the ball into attacking players than producing the final pass.
Potential attacking returns can still come from:
- Late runs
- Pressing turnovers
- Second balls
- Occasional long-range shots
- Set-piece rebounds
Those are additional routes, not the foundation of the pick.
Team-mate winner: Morgan Gibbs-White
A stable central midfielder can allow Gibbs-White to remain closer to the striker.
That can support:
- More penalty-area touches
- More shots
- More final passes
- Less responsibility in deep build-up
- Greater set-piece and bonus involvement
Schlager may therefore improve Gibbs-White's FPL appeal more than his own.
Team-mate winners: Forest's wing-backs
Glasner's system can use attacking wing-backs such as Ola Aina and Neco Williams.
Schlager's defensive positioning can protect the spaces they leave.
This can give them more freedom to:
- Advance
- Cross
- Join transitions
- Attack the far post
- Collect assists
The role only matters when Forest settle on a consistent back-three formation.
Team-mate winner: Chris Wood
Wood benefits when Forest win the ball higher and move it forward quickly.
Schlager can support those transitions without being the final assister.
The striker's own minutes, penalties and competition remain more important than the midfield signing alone.
Competition for central midfield
| Player | Main profile | FPL consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Schlager | Pressing and recoveries | £5.0m contribution watch |
| Ryan Yates | Physicality and club familiarity | Minutes can remain important |
| Ibrahim Sangare | Holding midfielder | Defensive role and competition |
| Other midfielders | Rotation and tactical options | New signings may still arrive |
| Gibbs-White | Advanced creator | Should remain closer to attack |
Schlager is likely to play regularly when fit, but European and domestic schedules can still create rotation.
Forest's opening fixtures
| Gameweek | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United | Home |
| 2 | Liverpool | Away |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home |
Leeds at home is a reasonable opening match.
Liverpool away is difficult, while Tottenham at home can create transition opportunities.
Use OneFPL Fixtures to review the full schedule as it updates.
World Cup workload
Schlager started all four of Austria's World Cup matches.
Forest need to manage:
- Recovery
- Return to training
- Friendly minutes
- Match sharpness
- Injury prevention
Do not assume he starts Gameweek 1 simply because he knows Glasner's system.
Schlager versus other £5.0m midfielders
| Attribute | Schlager |
|---|---|
| Expected minutes | Potentially strong after full integration |
| Goal threat | Low |
| Assist potential | Low-medium |
| Defensive contributions | Potentially strong |
| Clean-sheet point | Available as a midfielder |
| Bench value | Useful when secure |
| Starting-XI ceiling | Limited |
A more attacking £5.0m midfielder may have a higher ceiling, while Schlager can offer a more reliable floor.
Use OneFPL Compare when his first-team role is confirmed.
Best use in an FPL squad
Schlager can work as:
- A fifth midfielder
- A Bench Boost squad member
- A reliable first or second substitute
- A defensive-contribution specialist
- A Draft-game late selection in deeper leagues
He is less attractive as a regular starter when more attacking midfielders are available at a similar price.
OneFPL verdict
Current status: Strong real-life signing, possible FPL bench enabler.
Schlager can help replace Anderson's pressing and central work, but he should not be expected to reproduce Anderson's complete FPL output immediately.
His most valuable Fantasy impact may be improving:
- Gibbs-White's attacking role
- Forest's wing-backs
- Wood's transition service
- The team's defensive structure
Select Schlager only when pre-season confirms secure minutes and his defensive actions translate into contribution points.
Track the final lineup through OneFPL Team News.
FAQ
How much does Schlager cost in FPL?
£5.0m at the time of this update.
Has he worked with Oliver Glasner before?
Yes, at Wolfsburg.
Is he a direct Elliot Anderson replacement?
He can replace part of Anderson's midfield work, but not automatically the same attacking output.
Can Schlager earn defensive-contribution points?
Yes, when his eligible actions reach the midfielder threshold.
Is he a Gameweek 1 pick?
He is more suitable as a bench option after his minutes are confirmed.
Sources
OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
OneFPL analysis. OneFPL is an independent Fantasy Premier League companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the Premier League or Fantasy Premier League.
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