By Richard Hall (@Gentleman_Ultra)

Marco Van Basten, Ronaldo, Giuseppe Meazza, Gabriel Batistuta, Silvio Piola and of course Francesco Totti are just some of names on the list of superlative strikers to have graced Serie A. Italy’s premier division has acted as platform on which some of the world’s best marksman have plied their trade, whether it be over a number of decades (like in the case of Totti) or just a fleeting season in the Calcio limelight. The 2016/17 season has seen a collection of predatory strikers gather, each of whom is vying for the honour of becoming the division’s Capocannoniere.

Mauro Icardi: ‘The Baby-faced Assassin’

6 Goals, 1 Assist.

22 shots, 8 on target ratio 36%

Minutes played 540, minutes per goal 90.

Capocannoniere is a title Mauro Icardi is already well acquainted with. Two seasons ago the then 22-year-old closed his account with 22 goals to finish the season as the top scorer (alongside Luca Toni) in spite of playing for a fairly mundane Inter team at the time. The young Argentine found himself in Milan by way of Sampdoria where he netted 11 times in 33 appearances. Now he is the captain of the Nerazzurri and has undergone a revamp both in terms of his image as well as his playing style. Where once he was a philandering ‘fox in the box’, now he cuts a more muscular figure and is a frighteningly efficient striker.

This season he has benefited from the more cultured approach of Frank De Boer, a relationship that is already paying dividends. Icardi may well be the most-trigger happy striker of all the contenders on the list but he stands an excellent chance of surpassing his best tally in the top flight. His new physicality coupled with improved supply options (courtesy of Antonio Candreva and Ivan Perisic) have allowed him to terrorize opposition defenders from the get go this term.

Gonzalo Higuain: ‘Big money, Big man’

4 Goals, 0 Assists.

11 shots, 7 on target ratio 64%

Minutes played 306, minutes per goal 77.

When you equal Serie A’s best ever goal tally (36) and then move on for a 94m Euro transfer fee the expectations are always going to be huge. And expectations don’t get much bigger than moving to Italy’s biggest club with the primary objective of bringing the Champions League title back to Turin. The Neapolitans mourned Higuain’s departure to the North by burning effigies of the Argentine, cursing his name and praying he would get off to a slow start with his new mistress, ‘The Old Lady’.

Unfortunately for Napoli fans though ‘GON-ZA-LO’ has started the campaign in phenomenal fashion, having already netted four times in Serie A with his new club. Despite concerns over his weight during pre-season, the barrel chested forward has exhibited a graceful presence this term and although he looks somewhat less imposing, he now seems a more well-rounded forward (no pun intended). 

Arkadiusz Milik: ‘The Replacement’

4 Goals, 0 Assists.

10 shots, 9 on target ratio 90%

Minutes played 331, minutes per goal 86.

On the back of the European Championships many commentators questioned whether the Polish striker could do well outside of Ajax and the Eredivisie, never mind replace the great Gonzalo Higuain in Naples. Milik had scored 32 goals in 52 appearances for the Dutch club but arrived in Italy with questions marks hanging over his head. Could he really replace the 36-goal tally Napoli were now missing?

Napoli’s goalkeeper ‘Pepe’ Reina is convinced his new teammate will be a success at the San Paolo. “Can Milik reach Lewandowski’s level? It won’t be easy, but the potential is there. There’s six or seven years between them, so we have to be patient, he will have a fantastic career”, declared the Spanish shot-stopper. The Pole has exhibited an incredible 90% shot-to-target accuracy rate and the fact his teammates have taken it upon themselves to help in the collective tally, has taken some of the goalscoring burden off his shoulders. 

Carlos Bacca: ‘The Lone Wolf’

5 Goals, 0 Assists.

10 shots, 8 on target ratio 80%

Minutes played 458, minutes per goal 92.

The 30-year-old Colombian has always scored goals, whether at Atletico Junior (his first club), Club Brugge or Sevilla. In Milan however, he has possibly encountered his biggest challenge yet: a club stuck somewhere between the wilderness of European football and a potentially rich yet confusing future. Even so, as Icardi did two seasons ago with an in-transition Inter, Bacca has offered a languishing team hope. During the Rossoneri’s time of need the South American has been the one carrying Vincenzo Montella’s side to a respectable position in the table.

Bacca has five goals to his name and an impressive ability to find the target, which begs the question what could he do with better service? Montella insists Milan are not dependent on the Colombian, telling Mediaset after the last game that “Milan goes both with and without Bacca. I'm happy when he performs like he did tonight, but I'm also happy for the spirit of the group and for those who did not play because there is active participation by all.” Perhaps he doth protest too much?

Andrea Belotti: The Young Pretender

5 Goals, 1 Assist.

15 shots, 10 on target ratio 67%

Minutes played 294, minutes per goal 59.

Nicknamed ‘The Rooster’ for his bizarre but unique celebration, the 22-year-old has been a revelation for Torino so far this term and is also being talked up as the bright young hope of the Italian national team. Small, quick and incredibly energetic, the Granata striker has netted five times already this term in an impressive campaign. Reminiscent of Salvatore Schillaci in terms of style, his quick turn of pace and ability to receive a ball behind defenders, offers something not normally seen in today’s game.

The young striker could even be on seven goals had he not missed two penalties but to his credit he won both of them himself and, unlike his rivals, is playing for one of the division’s more modest sides. A Milan fan at heart it would not be a surprise were he to be targeted by the Rossoneri were Bacca to leave in the January transfer window. Torino however, will no doubt fight tooth and nail to keep him.

                                Download NOW on iOS and Android