Haaland still leading race for 23/24 Golden Boot despite Watkins' warning

The Premier League is looking for its new Golden Boot for the 2023-24 season after Erling Haaland broke all records. On his debut in the English Premier League, the Manchester City striker became the player with the most goals in a single season after scoring 36, surpassing legends Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, who led the all-time list with 34.

It is interesting to see who challenges the Norwegian, as English football has lost one of its benchmarks in the form of Harry Kane. The striker was the Premier League's top scorer three times (2015-16, 2016-17 and 2021-22), and in his last campaign he was denied by the 'Haaland phenomenon' as he scored 30 league goals and equalled his career-best tally. Although he aspired to be the league's all-time leading scorer, Tottenham's uncertain fortunes led him to swap London for Munich and try his luck in the Champions League with Bayern.

With Harry Kane out of contention, the Premier League has plenty of great strikers we already know all too well. At Tottenham themselves, a serious step forward is expected from Heung-min Son, and at Liverpool Mohamed Salah has always been a contender for the Golden Boot. Marcus Rashford is a benchmark at Manchester United, just as Alexander Isak or Callum Wilson have their sights set high at Newcastle. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ivan Toney (Brentford) or Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) also have great figures in the English top flight.

To this must be added those who have arrived. In the summer, the Premier League was once again the biggest spending league, with players such as Rasmus Hojlund joining Manchester United and Christopher Nkunku joining a Chelsea side in dire need of attacking midfielders. The Frenchman, like Nico Jackson, was an important gamble to bring the Blues back to the top of the table.

Looking back through history, Thierry Henry is the player with the most Premier League Golden Boots, 4. The legendary Arsenal striker won the first of them in the 2001-02 season (24 goals) and two years later, in the golden era of the 'Gunners', he won the remaining three in a row in the 2003-04 (30), 2004-05 (25) and 2005-06 (27) campaigns. Behind him, with 3 wins, are Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Alan Shearer.

The 2023-24 Premier League goalscorers' table is as follows

- 20 goals. Haaland (Manchester City).

- 19 goals: Watkins (Aston Villa).

- 17 goals: Solanke (Bournemouth), Isak (Newcastle) and Salah (Liverpool).

- 16 goals : Cole Palmer (Chelsea).

- 15 goals: Jarred Bowen (West Ham) and Son (Tottenham).

- 14 goals: Foden (Man City), Saka (Arsenal)...