The race for the Premier League Golden Boot heats up with surprise names battling Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah for the coveted gong

Now, in the business end of the campaign, WhoScored.com has turned its attention to individual Premier League accolades.

Just five goals currently separate the division's top eight scorers, at the time of writing, and the race for the coveted Golden Boot, much like the title race, appears to be coming down to the wire.

All the usual contenders are in the fight, but with the three-time winner Harry Kane Moving on to Germany, there is room for some new names in the race and there are some surprise contenders this year.

WhoScored.com has taken a look at the runners and assessed their performances and statistics behind their goals, as the battle to be crowned the Premier League's top scorer really heats up.

8. Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) – 15 goals

This season marks Jarrod BowenHe is the most prolific of his Premier League career, having recently scored his 15th goal of the campaign.

What's also impressive is that he reached that figure playing in multiple positions, whether operating from the right or leading the charge for the Hammers.

However, western ham They have a tough series of games to finish the season, with games against Liverpool, Chelsea and then Man City on the final day of the season.

Which means it will take a monumental effort from Bowen to make up for the current five-goal gap between him and top scorer Erling Haaland.

WhoScored Rating: 7.09

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7. Heung-min Son (Tottenham) – 15 goals

Tottenham pattern Son Heung-min He also has 15 goals for the campaign.

And while he is unlikely to match his 2021/22 Golden Boot year, when he tied for first with Mohamed Salah on 23, it is still a good season for Son following the departure of Harry Kane.

That said, following his return from the Asian Cup, the 31-year-old hasn't looked the same in attack. In fact, he has scored just three goals in his last nine games and just one in his last five.

The South Korean star looks exhausted after a long campaign, and that will weigh against the Spurs star.

WhoScored Rating: 7.34

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6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 17 goals

Another whose scoring exploits took a hit as a result of international duty, Mohamed Salah He missed a handful of matches due to Egypt's participation in the African Cup of Nations and then returned to Liverpool injured.

Salah has still been right 17 times this term, and still; Since the AFCON and his time on the bench, the Egyptian striker has only scored three goals in the league, one of which was a penalty.

The 31-year-old woman is not in a good mood about resuming her household chores.

WhoScored Rating: 7.36

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5. Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) – 17 goals

A surprise inclusion in the race for the Golden Boot. Dominic Solanke is enjoying a campaign to remember Bournemouth.

The Cherries hitman scored his 17th league goal of the season in the recent 2-2 draw with manchester unitedwhich is a big improvement on his six goals in 2022/23.

Solanke has taken the fourth-most shots (94) in the Premier League this season, although a conversion rate of just 18.1% is not the best reading.

The 26-year-old has also endured his barren spells, with the Bournemouth forward scoring just three goals in his last eight league games.

But he has proven to be a threat to defenses and could well improve his numbers in the Cherries' six remaining games, although they still have to face each other. Arsenal in the Emirates.

WhoScored Rating: 7.08

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4. Alexander Isak (Newcastle) – 17 goals

Having endured two separate periods of absence due to groin problems, Alejandro IsakThe balance of 17 goals is magnificent, to say the least.

He Newcastle The star has started just 21 of Newcastle's 32 league games but has the best goals per 90 returns (0.9) in the division.

Home comforts have certainly helped, with 12 of Isak's 17 goals coming at St James' Park, but with his current goalscoring rate he would have been leading the race for the Golden Boot had he stayed fit throughout the season. Campaign.

Of the 134 players who have taken at least 25 shots, Isak's conversion rate of 28.3% is the third best and it wouldn't be a surprise if he quickly regained the three-goal gap to the top of the league table. Premier League scores. graphics.

WhoScored Rating: 7.07

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3. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) – 19 goals

Olivia Watkins is ready to write your name on the Aston Villa history books after scoring his 19th league goal of the season in Sunday's 2-0 victory against Arsenal.

He has already broken the legend of the club Dwight YorkeThe record for direct involvement in goals in a single Premier League season is 29-19 goals and ten assists, while his tally also means he is currently tied with Christian Benteke as the top scorer in a single Premier League season. in the history of Villa.

The 28-year-old is finishing the campaign strongly, but what really stands out is the way Watkins scores his goals.

Those around him rely on penalties to inflate their numbers, but the Villa striker is yet to score from 12 yards in England's top flight this season, and Watkins has the ideal movement to get into goal-scoring positions.

Despite not being on penalty duty, the Villans hitman has scored 11 clear scoring opportunities, ranking him sixth in England's top flight.

WhoScored Rating: 7.34

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2. Erling Haaland (Man City) – 20 goals

Last season's Golden Boot winner was out for weeks but having scored 36 league goals in his first campaign, Erling Haaland He has hit a more reserved player 20 times in the Premier League this season.

Haaland ranks second in total shots (102) in the division and while he continues to risk his luck, the Norwegian's conversion rate of 19.6% is a drop in his first year in England.

The 23-year-old has come under fire in recent weeks, but with city ​​man Now focusing on his domestic duties following their Champions League exit in midweek, Haaland could come back to life in recent weeks.

If he wins the gong again, he will become the sixth player to win the Golden Boot for two consecutive seasons, joining an elite club alongside some true legends of English football.

Alan Shearer, michael owen, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie and Harry Kane are the only other men to achieve that feat.

WhoScored Rating: 7.35

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1. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – 20 goals

Cole Palmer tied with 20 goals in the league on Monday night when the Chelsea star scored four goals in the Blues' emphatic 6-0 victory over Everton.

Palmer is proving to be one of the signings of the season and the £42.5m man boasts the best xG performance (5.06) in England's top flight.

This return, however, needs more context: 45% of Palmer's goals, nine of 20, came from the penalty spot.

While the 21-year-old deserves praise for his magnificent campaign in west London, the high number of penalty kicks awarded to Chelsea has helped inflate his goal tally.

But the truth is that he contributes much more to the Blues than simply putting the ball in the net, which had led to suggestions he should be named Premier League Player of the Year.

Palmer has been one of the few bright lights for the London club this season in another mid-table struggling campaign, with his nine assists showing his ability to link play and his all-round creative talent in and around the box.

WhoScored Rating: 7.44

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