With this year’s top scorer transferred out of the Premiership, former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo (31 goals) has left the barn door wide open for another top goal scorer. When the upcoming English Premiership season comes to an end next May, who will be the leading goal scorer?

There has been a lot of shuffling in sides in this busy transfer season. In addition to Ronaldo departing England, Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has relocated to Manchester City. Despite being second in goals scored last season, Adebayor goes off at five to one odds to be the leading scorer in the Premiership. Tied for second best last season with Emmanuel was the deadly striker from Liverpool Fernando Torres, who is even in odds to lead in goals scored.

In the field of dreams, Wayne Rooney is expected to produce more in Ronaldo’s absence is given 16 to five odds. Newly signed Michael Owen, who looks sharp and rejuvenated in preseason is seven to two for the top goal scorer honors. Another United standout expected to step up productivity, Dinitar Berbatov goes off at six to one odds. Heading over to Stamford Bridge, Didier Drogba is eleven to five to be the league’s leading scorer, while Nicolas Anelka sports odds of nine to two.

Finding the Value

While top honors among goal scorers in England are up for grabs, the fact remains thirty-one goals is a lot to redistribute in United. Not that there is a rule stating that those thirty-one goals has to be used, but there is a lot of critical touches that will be redistributed in United. My guess is that Rooney and Owen will get a lion’s share of those critical touches, with Owen finishing at a far higher ratio – however neither of which are worth the value the odds currently set forth.

Adebayor will be in top form having joined City along side Carlos Tevez. With a proven ability to find the back of the net in Arsenal, Adebayor provides the most value at five to one to lead the league in scoring. The fact that Torres, who had an equal amount of goals yet presents at even odds to lead the league in scoring speaks mountains to the value in the futures of Emmanuel Adebayor. For that reason, I back the newly acquired City winger to take down top honors among goal scorers in the Premiership.