As the new Premier League season fast approaches, one question on everyone’s mind, as always, is who’s going to be the top goalscorer this season?
Here are the top ten favourites to win the prestigious Premier League Golden Boot – along with a couple of outside contenders…
Who will win the Premier League golden boot 2017/18?
Harry Kane
Seven goals in his last two games saw Harry Kane grab the Golden Boot away from Romelu Lukaku last season, and his form towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign has made him the leading favourite with most bookies for 2017/18.
Kane is part of a settled Spurs side, and unlike the new signings at the top clubs Kane won’t have to take time to settle into the style of play. Barring any injuries Kane is certain of a starting place at Spurs and will take his fair share of free kicks and penalties. The move to Wembley could be a hindrance to Spurs but backing against a man who scored 29 goals in 30 league games last season is a risky game.
Odds to be top scorer – 3/1
Romelu Lukaku
First of all i want to thank God for this opportunity. Delighted and blessed to be part of the greatest club in the world @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/dWrQjHkH5a
— R.Lukaku Bolingoli10 (@RomeluLukaku9) July 10, 2017
Second favourite to be top scorer is the forward who Kane pipped last season, Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku scored 25 goals in an impressive Everton side last season but after his big money move to Manchester United he will hope to score even more.
Lukaku has a reputation of being a ‘flat track bully’ and while some see that as unfair it could be exactly the kind of forward that Mourinho’s side need. Last season they struggled to convert draws into wins and drew home matches with West Brom, Stoke and Burnley amongst others. If Lukaku can convert the chances created he will not only win more points for his side but also score more goals.
Odds to be top scorer – 4/1
Sergio Aguero
A player who is always going to be one of the top scorers is Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian has netted at least 20 league goals in each of the past three seasons and will likely score as many this season.
Aguero scored 20 goals in 25 starts last season despite concerns and doubts over his future and his fitness. Towards the end of the season Aguero looked in fine condition and has had a full pre-season under Pep Guardiola to get him ready for the new campaign.
The one thing that could prevent Aguero winning the golden boot is the emergence of his teammate Gabriel Jesus. There have been suggestions that Guardiola could play both of them together upfront but if he is to opt for one then Aguero could find himself in the midst of a rotation policy.
Odds to be top scorer – 7/1
Alvaro Morata
Chelsea’s big summer signing Alvaro Morata didn’t have the best of debuts against Arsenal in the Community Shield when he missed a penalty, but he will be expected to put all that behind him now as Chelsea start the defence of their league title.
Morata is expected to lead the line for Chelsea and if he is chosen as Antonio Conte’s first choice starter he will need to get off to a good start. Chelsea have a difficult set of fixtures early on, facing Spurs, Everton, Leicester and Arsenal after their Burnley opener.
If Morata doesn’t find the net early on then he will be under immense pressure in these games and could struggle for confidence. A goal, however, will give him huge belief that he is the man Chelsea need and that can fire them to another title.
Odds to be top scorer – 9/1
Gabriel Jesus
The man who could keep Sergio Aguero out of the team, Gabriel Jesus is also highly fancied to be the Premier League’s top scorer.
Eu nasci pra ser feliz Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.#alômãe #doperi #gratidão pic.twitter.com/nXZjZrh4UP
— Gabriel Jesus (@gabrieljesus33) August 6, 2017
The 20-year-old Brazilian impressed when he joined Manchester City in January and took no time to settle into the Premier League, scoring seven goals in eight starts. Much like Aguero, Jesus’ chances of being top scorer this season will likely depend on whether he is first choice under Guardiola.
No matter who is the striker for Manchester City, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Bernardo Silva all playing behind them they will not be short of supply.
Odds to be top scorer – 9/1
Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal’s new £53m striker Alexandre Lacazette will be expected to fire Arsenal back into the Champions League this season, and if the Frenchman can replicate the form he showed at Lyon then he will be amongst the league’s leading scorers.
Lacazette had a season not too dissimilar to his now north London rival Harry Kane, where he scored 28 goals in 28 starts for Lyon in Ligue 1 last year. Lacazette will replace his fellow countryman Olivier Giroud as Arsenal’s leading forward, and with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil behind him he should get the chances to show his clinical finishing.
Odds to be top scorer – 10/1
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.@LacazetteAlex pic.twitter.com/2z5GIIpqWu
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) August 10, 2017
SEE ALSO: Alexandre Lacazette – What are arsenal getting for their £53m and is he worth the hype?
Alexis Sanchez
Just behind Lacazette in the running, according to the bookies, is his Arsenal teammate Alexis Sanchez.
Despite Arsenal finishing outside the top four, Sanchez had his best season in terms of goals and assists with 24 goals and 10 assists in the league for the Gunners. The move of Lacazette however is likely to harm Sanchez’s potential goal tally.
Furthermore, last season Sanchez primarily played as the main forward for Arsenal and Lacazette will likely force the Chilean back into a wider position.
Odds to be top scorer – 14/1
Diego Costa
Admittedly he may not be a candidate for the Golden Boot for long but while he’s still at Chelsea, Diego Costa has to be considered as a potential leading goal scorer.
Costa scored 20 goals last season and while his future looks almost certainly to be away from Chelsea, stranger things have happened in football. If Chelsea do struggle at the start of the season and Costa is still at the club then he could still play a big role for The Blues.
Odds to be top scorer – 16/1
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford proved towards the end of last season that he could lead the line for Manchester United, scoring some crucial goals in their Europa League winning campaign.
However during the first part of the season Rashford struggled for goals due to the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. While Ibrahimovic was fit, he was Jose Mourinho’s first choice forward, which meant Rashford either had to play out wide or settle for a place on the bench.
A similar situation is likely to occur now Romelu Lukaku has arrived and unless Mourinho springs a tactical surprise and plays both Lukaku and Rashford it seems as though the nineteen-year-old will once again be used as a backup centre forward or in a supporting position.
Odds to be top scorer – 25/1
Sadio Mane
One of the signings of the season last year, Sadio Mane will be hoping for an even better season this year with Liverpool.
Mane’s time at the African Cup of Nations showed how crucial he was to the Reds, with Liverpool struggling during his absence. Mane though managed to score 13 goals in 26 starts despite often operating from a wide right position.
Liverpool have an array of attacking talents but no real out-and-out forward who is guaranteed to start games. Mane will likely score more than the 13 goals he did last year, but whether he can score as many as the likes of Kane or Aguero is doubtful.
Odds to be top scorer – 33/1
Outside Bets
Now for some of my own personal outside tips…
Jermain Defoe
Defoe is a proven Premier League goalscorer, and last season managed to score 15 goals despite playing for a Sunderland side who finished bottom of the league. Now at an attacking Bournemouth side, Defoe is likely to play as part of a front two and will surely have better service than he did while at Sunderland.
Odds to be top scorer – 50/1
Dwight Gayle
Dwight Gayle scored 23 goals in 26 starts last season as Newcastle won the Championship. Now back in the Premier League, Gayle will be expected to lead the line for the Magpies. Gayle has proven he can score goals in the Premier League while at Crystal Palace and he will relish the opportunity to play as a first choice striker in the top flight.
Odds to be top scorer – 80/1
Who do you think will be the Premier League Golden Boot winner in 2017/18? Let us know your prediction below, on Twitter @JustFootball or Facebook. And follow us there for more football news, features and analysis.
Main image credit: via The Standard
The post Who will win the Premier League Golden Boot? 12 candidates to be top scorer appeared first on Just Football.