By Utkarsh Tripathi

With August 6 heralding a new Premier League season, the fortunes of the 20 teams in the League will rest on their players, to be precise, their strikers. Here are the boots to look out for this season:

1.    Erling Haaland

The prodigal wonderkid, who has already made his mark in the Bundesliga by averaging a goal per game in the 2021 Bundesliga season, is expected to be an eyecatcher for Manchester City fans as well as for Premier League fans.

Haaland signed for 51 million Euros for a 5-year contract with Manchester City. This was surprisingly quite a low bargain for someone with his potential and talent. However, the 22-year-old had followed the footsteps of his father Alf-ine Haaland, a former City player, by signing this deal.

The Norwegian striker has maintained a streak of breaking records in his career. In his former stint in Borussia Dortmund, he beat the record of being the fastest as well as being the youngest player to reach the 50 goals mark in the Bundesliga.

The striker is already being compared to the greats, since he became the fastest player to reach 100 career goals beating fellow Phenomenon, Kylian Mbappe. What took Kylian 180 games to achieve; Haaland did it in only 146.

The only doubt that should haunt City fans is how he will fit in with Pep Guardiola’s system, considering his former team.

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2.    Darwin Nunez

Darvin Nunez is a well-built striker, who will pose a problem for defenders in the Premier League. The new Liverpool signing had caught the attention of Klopp when he played and scored against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter final, scoring against them in both legs.

The Benfica star was signed for a whopping 85 million Euros for a six-year deal. The Uruguayan is anticipated to be worth the price the club has signed him for. He has shown in his career that he is a man of character and hardwork considering his humble beginnings.

In the 2021 season with Benfica, Nunez had a slow start in which he was only able to score 14 goals in 44 appearances. After picking up an injury in May, he underwent surgery. However, after his comeback, Nunez managed to score a total 26 goals and 4 assists in just 24 appearances.

Nunez left his mark in the Portuguese Primera Liga with his performance in the 2021 season and was awarded the golden boot. The 23-year-old Liverpool star is expected to be the missing piece in Klopp’s system after Sadio Mane’s exit to Bayern Munich. He is already impressing the manager and his fans with his sharpness inside the box in pre-season games.

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3.    Gabriel Jesus

At 25, Gabriel Jesus, the former Manchester city striker, is one of the most unpredictable strikers in the competition. At City, he adapted and flourished under Pep Guardiola’s complex system, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in his previous season.

The Brazilian signed a long-term $ 54 million deal with the Gunners. Coach Mikel Arteta hopes Jesus’s presence could get Arsenal higher up the table.

Jesus has turned heads with his performance in the pre-season tour and the fans high hopes’ will be another pressure factor.

4.    Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling, former Manchester City star, has consistently tallied up double figures, crossing the 20 goal mark every season from 2017 to 2020. He has scored 131 goals for Manchester City, finding place on the team’s all-time top scorer’s list.

The 27-year-old veteran signed a five-year deal for 45 million Euros with Chelsea this year. The English striker and winger was on the Blues’ top priority list as the transfer window opened. He is going to be part of the Chelsea attacking trio, making him a significant part of the team’s plan. With Thomas Tuchel as the manager, it is imagined it won’t be an issue for Sterling to settle.

5.    Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future was uncertain after the lacklustre Manchester United performance the previous season, which made Ronaldo want to leave. Despite the unsatisfactory performance by the club, Ronaldo still managed to find the net 24 times in 34 appearances which made him the recipient of Manchester United’s player of the year award.

The five-time men’s Ballon d’Or award winner shouldn’t be counted out just yet. He is still amongst the top strikers in the world. His return to Manchester United last season made headlines across the world, inspiring fans to attend more matches to support United and also to watch one of the greatest play.

After the Ronaldo’s decision to stay at United was finalized, it is quite possible that he and Erik ten Hag can bring United back to its prime. Ten Hag has time and again told the press how vital Ronaldo is for the system he has planned.

With players coming back from loan such as Antony Martial and Van De Beek and Christian Eriksen as a new signing, it is fitting to say Manchester United are on the right track to atone for their past season. Ronaldo’s stay will compliment the team but “will he press” will continue to plague the Portuguese star.

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