Joao Pedro Shock 16/1 Favorite for Premier League Golden Boot

As the new Premier League season commences this season, many of the league's star talent will be eyeing up the prize of the Golden Boot as Mo Salah seeks an elusive fifth achievement as the league's top scorer this season. However, despite the Egyptian impressive record alongside Erling Haaland and even a fired-up Viktor Gyokeres look to make a dent on the race, neither these three are the most-backed ahead of the season.

Surprise for some, it is Joao Pedro who finds himself heavily backed to secure the top accolade after impressive in the Club World Cup (CWC) after his transfer from Brighton to Chelsea in the summer. The Brazilian, still only 23, finished last season as joint-top scorer for the Albion with 10 Premier League goals but already made a mark for the Blues with three goals in three during the CWC including in the final against PSG.

Bookies William Hill have him priced highly at 16/1, expecting him to drop out of the race as the season progress while a potential three-horse race could be on the cards between Salah, Haaland and Gyokeres. City's main man is 6/5 favourites to win the accolade again after a disastrous season for Pep Guardiola's side last year while Salah is 4/1 to win an elusive fifth Golden Boot having equalled Thierry Henry's record last season while Gyokeres is 13/2 after completing his move to Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon.

William Hill's Lee Phelps said: “All eyes will be on the new Premier League recruits when the season gets underway this weekend, but it’s not where punters are looking in our Top Goalscorer market, with nearly 15% of bets placed on Joao Pedro at 16/1 to be leading scorer this season.

“While Pedro is new at Stamford Bridge this season, he has several years of Premier League experience with Brighton already under his belt, something that can’t be said for new Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres (13/2), who has attracted the second-highest percentage of bets.

“However, with 11.6% of bets on the Swede, punters clearly feel he can make an instant impact in the Premier League, while fellow new big-money signings Hugo Ekitike (16/1) and Benjamin Sesko (18/1) account for a far smaller percentage of bets.”

A 16/1 ticket on a lively starter like Pedro pays far more than siding with the chalk, so it hoovers up small-stake interest. Gyokeres sits in the sweet spot: a credible first season in England expected, a mid-range price that still feels punchy, and a team designed to feed its No 9.

Bookmakers are keeping Ekitike and Sesko on a longer leash while form beds in. Both have the profile to spike—pace, movement, minutes available—but until penalties, pecking order and creative supply are settled, their quotes reflect uncertainty. Their modest bet shares suggest punters are waiting for proof rather than paying for promise.

Haaland at 6/5 tells its own story: short odds imply a high implied probability, but they are less tempting for recreational bettors. Serious money does not need to show up in volumes to move that price, and many fans prefer longer shots that turn a tenner into a talking point. Salah and Isak, priced at 4/1 and 6/1, sit between these poles—trusted scorers with enough juice in the number to tempt value-seekers.

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