Goalscoring records of leading strikers at Premier League's top clubs

09 August 2017 09:09

Arsenal may have got the best of the summer's spending rush on strikers, if the players' goalscoring records are any indication.

While Manchester United and champions Chelsea battled over Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata, to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Diego Costa respectively, Arsene Wenger nipped in and signed Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette early in the off-season.

The Frenchman was the cheapest of the three at 'only' £45million, and he has been the most prolific in recent years.

We looked at the players' minutes-per-goal record over the last three campaigns, along with those of the primary strikers at the rest of the top flight's leading clubs.

Lacazette has scored a goal every 115.4 minutes in that time, perfectly in line with Tottenham's repeat Premier League Golden Boot winner Harry Kane (115.3) with only Sergio Aguero out in front.

The Manchester City man has drifted in and out of favour under Pep Guardiola, and faces a threat to his place from Gabriel Jesus, but remains the most prolific player in the study with a goal every 108 minutes.

Morata scores every 145 minutes, on average, with Lukaku at 156.7.

While it could be argued Lacazette faced easier competition in Ligue 1, Ibrahimovic continued to score regularly after moving from Paris St Germain to United - while playing in LaLiga has hardly prevented Morata's former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona's Lionel Messi racking up the goals. Furthermore, the study also includes the Champions League and Europa League as well as the domestic league and cups.

Liverpool's goals were shared out among their attacking players as they finished fourth last term, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho all notable contributors. Their most traditional striker remains Daniel Sturridge, who averages a goal every 158.8 minutes in limited action.

Everton have recruited ambitiously this summer in a bid to advance towards the top four, including bringing their former talisman Wayne Rooney back to the club.

They will hope a change of scenery, and possibly a return to a more advanced position, can see the ex-United man improve on his record of a goal every 246 minutes over recent seasons, and every 302 minutes last term.

Scoring rates - last three seasons:

ALVARO MORATA

Club: Chelsea

Former clubs (last three seasons): Real Madrid, Juventus

Goals: 45

Minutes per goal: 145.0

HARRY KANE

Club: Tottenham

Former clubs (last three seasons): N/A

Goals: 94

Minutes per goal: 115.3

SERGIO AGUERO

Club: Manchester City

Former clubs (last three seasons): N/A

Goals: 94

Minutes per goal: 108.1

DANIEL STURRIDGE

Club: Liverpool

Former clubs (last three seasons): N/A

Goals: 25

Minutes per goal: 158.8

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE

Club: Arsenal

Former clubs (last three seasons): Lyon

Goals: 92

Minutes per goal: 115.4

ROMELU LUKAKU

Club: Manchester United

Former clubs (last three seasons): Everton

Goals: 71

Minutes per goal: 156.7

WAYNE ROONEY

Club: Everton

Former clubs (last three seasons): Manchester United

Goals: 37

Minutes per goal: 246.1

:: Record over last three seasons in league, domestic cups, Champions League and Europa League (including qualifying rounds).

Source: PA