The Premier league has improved by leaps and bounds over the years. The level of competition is increasing and the gap between the clubs throughout the league are diminishing day after day. Last to last year when a win over Manchester United was seen as the high-point of Leicester season, the same team was celebrating their maiden title triumph the very next year. With all the teams capable of beating each other, game planning and getting the desired players have taken on a more crucial role than ever before.
In the current window the teams have been busy setting up their squad, and with the influx of several coaches of world-class calibre, it is expected this season of the league will be the most tactical in a long time and will be decided by a fine margin.
With the teams getting more organized and tight at the back, goal scoring has become relatively tougher, and the need for strikers who can produce a moment of brilliance or seize on opportunities have become of paramount importance.
We look at three new strikers who are expected to influence their teams in a profound manner.
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
Signing the mighty Zlatan on a free, Manchester United have probably made the signing of the season. Though the big Swedish international is almost midway through his thirties, and yet, he doesn’t seem to have lost his touch and finishing abilities. He is more than capable of dominating defences as his staggering 38 goals in Ligue 1 last season proves that. He will look to take advantage of the host of talented creative players around him at United and can play a crucial hand in how the script unfolds in the red half of Manchester. He will supplement the aura Old Trafford exudes and the move has the potential to be a game-changer for Mourinho and the Red Devils.
ALVARO NEGREDO
The former Manchester City man has been one of the shock signings of the transfer window, with a majority of them coming from the newly promoted Boros. An accomplished striker with an admirable presence in the penalty box, this is a signing which has the potential to be pivotal to the fortunes of Middlesbrough.
Having started off with a bang in his first season at City, his form tailed off in the second half of the campaign before he fell out with Manuel Pellegrini and was shipped off to Valencia. He scored an impressive 23 goals in 49 games for the Etihad outfit and additionally provided 8 assists. Boro will be looking at him to make an instant impact with his Premier League experience.
VINCENT JANSSEN
Tottenham Hotspur finally wrapped up the signing of this Dutch international from AZ Alkmaar after a protracted summer transfer saga. The player has expressed delight at joining them and will be eager to prove himself on the big stage. Though the irrepressible Harry Kane will start up top, their season might as well come down to the amount of rest provided to their star player before crucial games. And Spurs will finally have a quality back-up and an able partner for Harry Kane, who has an impressive goal-scoring pedigree having netted 27 goals for the Eredivisie club. For Tottenham, who will be contending in the Champions League as well, the addition of Janssen might prove to be the difference.
