Who will finish as top scorer in the Premier League this season?

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is the man to beat in the race for the Premier League top scorer this season

With less than a week before the new Premier League season kicks-off excitement is starting to build and teams are starting to put in their final preparations for the new season.

One of the most exciting facets of the Premier League this season could be the race to be the top-flight’s top scorer. Here are some of the candidates for the accolade:

Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

The Dutchman topped the scoring charts last season with 26 goals, as he helped Manchester United regain the Premier League crown from noisy neighbours Manchester City.

The former-Arsenal player has to be considered the favourite for the accolade for the third consecutive season.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

The controversial Uruguayan forward enjoyed his best goal scoring campaign in English football last season hitting 23 Premier League goals. However, speculation over his future has marred the Reds preparations for the new season.

Suarez will miss the first six games of the Premier League season through suspension, if he remains in England. That will work massively against the talented, but crazy striker.

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)

Daniel Sturridge arrived at Liverpool in January and made a blistering start to his Reds career. He went from Chelsea understudy, to important striker for Liverpool in a very short space in time. If he can continue his form from last season he is likely to be a threat to the top Premier League strikers.

Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Manchester City’s little Argentinian striker endured a disappointing second season at the Etihad Stadium. Aguero picked up an injury in City’s very first game of the season, which seemed to hamper him right the way through the campaign.

However, the striker now looks to be back to full fitness and maybe this season he can wipe away the disappointment of last season.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Bale is another player whose future has been discussed at length for much of the summer, for now though he remains a Spurs player. The Welsh star was outstanding last season, as he almost single-handedly led the north London side into the Champions League.

Unfortunately for him an injury towards the end of the season, contributed to Tottenham missing out on a Champions League place to neighbours Arsenal. Even if he does stay, Bale has to be considered an outsider for the top scorer, despite his spectacular form towards the end of last season.

Roberto Soldado (Tottenham)

The former-Valencia striker has been a prolific scorer of goals for Los Ches in La Liga in recent seasons. Soldado struck 24 times for Valencia last season in the top-flight and is one of the more interesting signing of the summer.

The Spanish international could just be the striker that Spurs have been crying out for. If Gareth Bale stays I am sure he will have good ammunition this season, even without Bale he should still get his fair share of goals.

Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City)

Negredo also arrived from La Liga, but the Soldado’s compatriot arrived from Sevilla, where he scored 25 La Liga goals, the only Spaniard in La Liga to better Soldado’s record.  Negredo is definitely built for the English top flight and with a good supply line at City he could repeat his scoring feats of last season.

Negredo is definitely one of the new arrivals to watch this season. The Spain international has made a bright start to his City career in pre-season and is looking sharp ahead of the new campaign.

Wilfried Bony (Swansea)

The Ivorian is one of the most dangerous outsiders for the accolade of Premier League’s top scorer. Bony is highly-rated after hitting 31 goals in 30 appearances for Vitesse in the Eredivisie last season.

The 24-year-old had been linked with a number of top-flight teams, before Swansea took the chance on the striker. Bony could be another shrewd signing by Swans boss Michael Laudrup.

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Just like Bale and Suarez, Rooney’s future has dominated the headlines this summer. The England striker handed in a transfer request at the end of last season, but United are saying that he will not be leaving Old Trafford, despite Chelsea’s interest in the striker.

Last season was considered a bad one for Rooney, despite the forward scoring 12 goals and assisting one a number of others. However, if a move to Chelsea did materialise before the transfer window shuts then Rooney is likely to play with a renewed hunger at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Benteke (Villa)

The young Villa striker enjoyed an outstanding first season in the Premier League last season and attracted the interest of Tottenham, only to sign a contract extension at Villa Park. Could be a threat to scorer charts if he continues from where he left off last season.

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)

Like his compatriot Benteke, Lukaku enjoyed a very productive season in Midlands in the last campaign, scoring 17 league goals while on-loan at West Brom. If he is given the chance in the Blues attack is likely to score goals, especially with the creative players that will play behind him this season.

Rickie Lambert (Southampton)

The Southampton front man enjoyed last season and recently received a call-up to the England squad as a reward for his stellar first campaign in the top-flight. Always a danger to defences could be amongst the top scorers this season. Set-pieces should add to his goal tally this season.

Difficult

It really is difficult to predict who will finish as the top scorer in the Premier League this season, especially with doubts of the futures of so many of the leading contenders. Let’s hope that this season is as entertaining as last season and the campaign is full of goals.

Who will finish as top scorer in the Premier League this season?