Premier League 2016-17 awards: 5 best forwards

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal shoots as Antonio Barragan of Middlesbrough attempts to block during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium on April 17, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /

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Lukaku is one of the five best forwards in the Premier League

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25: Romelu Lukaku of Everton scores his side’s second goal past Jordan Pickford of Sunderland during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Goodison Park on February 25, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images) /

1. Romelu Lukaku, Everton

Goal points per 90 minutes played: 7.09

The Belgian international only just pipped Harry Kane to the title, but as you can see from the scores these two have been a fair way ahead of the competition. Ignoring the stats if we can, that instinctively feels like it has been the case this season.

Using my method, Lukaku has amassed a total of over 50 points more than his nearest rival. He also leads this quintet on a more straightforward minutes per non-penalty goal system, finding the net every 117 minutes on average. Everton’s number 10 has also scored in the joint-most matches this season (16), so is a deserved winner of the title of best forward in the Premier League.

He may have scored four goals against Bournemouth and three against Sunderland, but Lukaku is also the top scorer in the hardest games among these players, having scored three times against teams who make up the Premier League’s big six.

Will Everton be able to hold onto him beyond the summer? I’m not convinced, because a talent as large as his needs to be testing himself in the Champions League, and there’s little to suggest Everton will get there any time soon. It’ll take a large fee for them to let him go, though, and Evertonians have to hope they reinvest the money wisely.

The likes of Roberto Firmino and Sergio Aguero have perhaps been unlucky to be excluded from this countdown, but there’s no doubt that Lukaku is deserving of the top spot.

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