A new Premier League season is upon us. A busy summer from all 20 top-flight teams has seen countless comings and goings, and as a result there are a few new names on fans’ lips. But is there anyone who could threaten to topple Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top of the scoring charts. The bookmakers’ certainly don’t reflect that prospect, with the likes of rhino bet putting the Norwegian as odds on favourite to claim the coveted Golden Boot award. But who else is in contention.
Haaland’s numbers
Haaland has been a revelation since joining City from Borussia Dortmund a year ago. The striker banged in an incredible 36 goals in his club’s march to the title. That total was more then 50 across all competitions as City romped to a historic treble. It will be a hard act to follow for Haaland and his teammates, but there is little doubt that if another player finishes above City’s prolific number nine, then they will be in with an incredible chance of claiming the prestigious top scorer prize.
Greatest threat to Haaland gone
That player won’t be Harry Kane. The England captain and Tottenham’s record all-time goalscorer has departed English shores for Germany and a Champions League charge with Bayern Munich. The iconic striker notched a brilliant 30 goals in his club’s troubled campaign last time out, and in doing so surpassed Wayne Rooney in the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers. If Kane is to topple Alan Shearer at the top of those particular charts, it won’t be for a few years as he embarks on a new adventure in Bavaria. So who else is there to threaten Haaland?
No Toney
Another player who had a great goalscoring season last time out was Ivan Toney. The Brentford frontman scored an impressive 20 goals as his club threatened the European places. It was form that catapulted the player into England reckoning. Unfortunately for Toney and the Bees, a betting ban has resulted in a punishment that will see the striker sit on the sidelines for the vast majority of the season. That’s another competitor gone for Haaland.
Established contenders
Of the established Premier League goalscorers, the main threat to Haaland should come from Liverpool’s Mo Salah. The Reds frontman has topped the charts on three separate occasions and notched a respectable 19 goals last time out. That was a long way behind Haaland however and we wait to see if Salah’s powers are on the wane, especially now he is without his prolific partners Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Another Tottenham player, Son Heung-Min shared the award with Salah in the 2021/22 season, but the South Korean was way off the pace last time out and it remains to be seen if he can rediscover his touch in front of goal, especially now his great partner Kane is now gone. Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is another contender, but will need to step up from his 17 strikes last time out. Likewise Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, who would have been happy with his return of 18 as the Magpies qualified for the Champions League. Keep an eye on Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez too, who will be expected to improve on his nine, especially if he can steer clear of injury. And another player who will surely hit the net with regularity this season is another Newcastle striker – Alexander Isak. Villa’s Ollie Watkins was another regular scorer and can be expected to have another solid season in front of goal.
Arsenal were the team to run City closest in the league last season, and regularly hit the back of the net. But the Gunners tend to share their goals around as last season proved, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all regularly scoring and assisting. New signing Kai Havertz can be expected to be added to that list for next season. But a Golden Boot? It seems unlikely.
New faces
But who are the new faces that we can expect to hit the back of the net with regularity this new Premier League campaign? One player to keep an eye on is new Chelsea striker Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman regularly finished near the top of the charts for former club RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, and will surely be a success for the Blues under Mauricio Pochettino. Another player to keep an eye on is new Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund, signed for big money from Atalanta. A young and prolific Scandinavian striker – sounds familiar doesn’t it? United will hope they have bought a goalscoring machine in the mould of City’s number nine, but it’s a bit of a stretch to see Hojlund hitting those kinds of numbers in his debut campaign in England. Indeed, up until now, the Dane hasn’t come close to posting the kinds of stats that Haaland boasts. But then again, who does?
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