Top 5 candidates to win the Capocannoniere this season

1. Krzysztof Piatek

For a few months there it really looked like Krzysztof Piatek would take home the title of Capocannoniere in his first Serie A season. His 22 goals ended up only being good enough for 3rd place, but his season clearly illustrated just how dangerous he can be and the scary thing is, he just turned 24 last month. In his second year with AC Milan, I think is going to finish the job and claim the title of Capocannoniere. He just has too much working in his favor not to.

First of all, there is one thing that connects the other 4 names on this list that doesn’t pertain to

More from Serie A

• Update on Leonardo Bonucci’s legal action against Juventus
• Romelu Lukaku and the betrayal of Inter Milan
• Report: Piotr Zieliński set to sign a new deal with SSC Napoli
• The man rumored to replace Kim Min-Jae: Who is Napoli target Robin Le Normand?
• Are Napoli finally Scudetto-bound? It sure looks like it

Piatek. This connecting thread is that the other 4 will all have to compete in Europe. Piatek doesn’t have that burden on his plate and it likely means he will play the most minutes in Serie A out of all the names on this list. If nothing else, that should at least mean he’ll have the most opportunities to score out of all of these talented strikers.

Then there is the matter of the talent surrounding him. Last year, Piatek was a force in spite of the fact that he spent half of the year with a bad Genoa team and then spent the other half with an AC Milan squad whose midfield was absolutely ravaged by injury.

He will have no such issues this year. Milan’s midfield is healthy and has even added some depth just in case. The youth in the midfield should also mean that players like Lucas Paqueta and Franck Kessie will continue to improve just like I expect Piatek to. Milan has also added Rafael Leao, who looks like he could be a perfect partner for Piatek up front.

One of the reasons Piatek didn’t finish the season as Italy’s top scorer last year is because he ended taking a full shot less from inside the penalty area per game once he transferred to Milan. That shouldn’t be an issue this year.

There is a lot lining up for Krzysztof Piatek to win the title of Capocannoniere this season. He has the talent, the supporting cast, and the opportunity. I think this year he gets it done.