Michu needs to be taken seriously in race for Golden Boot
Published:Michu struck the equaliser for Swansea to earn his team their first ever Premier League point against Manchester United, but also to stand alone as the division’s top scorer.
Now deployed as the lone striker for the Swans by manager Michael Laudrup, odds of 7/1 for Michu to end the season as the best marksman are more than tempting.
Originally bought – as widely publicised for a price of just £2m – from Rayo Vallecano as an attacking midfielder, Swansea have transformed the Spaniard into a prolific forward.
Michu’s 13th goal of the season – a tap in from just yards out – proved his poacher credentials and took him one strike ahead of Van Persie’s haul of 12.
The Dutchman heads the betting at a much shorter price of 11/8, perhaps rightly so given he picked up the top scorer gong for Arsenal last campaign with 30 strikes.
Two players who finished behind the former Gunner last year are still in contention again in 2012/13, but will need to find their scoring boots more regularly if they are to catch Michu and RVP.
Wayne Rooney hit 27 Premier League goals last season, and could top the charts from 10/1 despite just seven goals so far for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
After a slow start to this season, Sergio Aguero now has six goals for Manchester City and might make a second half of the campaign charge available at 9/1.
Luis Suarez didn’t finish in the top ten last season due to suspension and Liverpool’s struggles, but he is the second favourite this term looking revitalised under Brendan Rodgers’ Reds.
With 11 goals already he is close to the leaders and at 7/2 he is a worthy punt considering if Liverpool score – it tends to be done by the Uruguayan.
Demba Ba currently has the same total, but is further back at 10/1, a price he shares with Tottenham’s nine-goal striker Jermain Defoe.
However, given Michu will be the top scorer in the league on Christmas Day, and in doing so prove his goalscoring potential, he deserves a flutter at 7/1 to stay there until May.
The focal point of a strong Swansea team, he may have less chances than Van Persie at United and others in Champions League-chasing teams, but the 26-year-old has an incredible knack worth backing to keep the goals coming.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
