Who are the Premier League Golden Boot Contenders?

Could Charlie Austin lift the Golden Boot?

We are closing into the home stretch of the Premier League season but who are in the mix to lift the Golden Boot trophy?

With 16 games left in the Premier League season, the race for the Golden Boot this year has got a fresh look to it.

Unless two-time winner Robin van Persie suddenly hits a spectacular vein of form, we will have a new winner at the end of the season.

Diego Costa is in pole position but the challengers are within range. It appears to be down to a five-horse race and here they are.

Diego Costa - Goals: 17

Chelsea's big-money summer singing has continued where he left off at Atletico Madrid by scoring goals for fun. The Spain international has helped himself to 17 Premier League goals in just 19 appearances.

Costa looks like he was built to play football in England. His burly, physical style and deadly finishing is a throwback to the good old days - as is his tendency to get involved in some extra-curricular activity on the field.

His well-publicised hamstring issues notwithstanding, Costa is holding the aces as he spearheads the attack for the champions-elect.

Sergio Aguero - Goals: 14

It seems like all we've done this season is discuss Costa's hamstrings and yet it was Aguero that managed to miss a chunk of the season with injury.

Before his setback, the Man City striker was in devastating goalscoring form. He helped himself to four against Tottenham in October and looked set to go on and claim the Golden Boot he has perhaps surprisingly yet to win since arriving in England four years ago.

After missing the festive period, Aguero is now back and his presence and form will dictate whether Manuel Pellegrini's team can retain their title.

Charlie Austin - Goals: 13

What a revelation the QPR centre forward has been this season. How pleasing too for Roy Hodgson to see Austin leading a charge of three young English strikers amongst the top ten goalscorers at this stage of the season (Saido Berahino and Harry Kane joining Austin).

Austin's tally is all the more impressive given QPR's current league position. If the Loftus Road side can begin to move clear of the relegation zone in the latter half of the season then there is nothing to suggest Austin won't be scoring the goals to keep pace with the big names in the Golden Boot race.

With Euro 2016 qualification well and truly in hand for Hodgson's Three Lions, England recognition surely awaits.

Alexis Sanchez - Goals: 12

Like Costa, Arsenal's marquee summer capture has taken to life in the Premier League in stunning fashion. The former Barcelona winger has been so impressive since arriving in north London that it poses the question of why he was rather under-utilised by the Catalans.

Sanchez is a star in his own right and he has been the pivotal figure in anything positive achieved by Arsene Wenger's side this season.

It hasn't been plain sailing for the Gunners but with the likes of Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil now back playing, Arsenal have a chance to really push on.

The Gunners may be capable of overhauling Manchester United and Southampton to finish 'best of the rest' behind the front two and if they do, Sanchez will continue to score.

Wilfried Bony - Goals: 9

His January move to Manchester City means that Bony just squeezes onto our list.

He's eight behind Costa in the current pecking order but joining the ranks at the Etihad gives him a squeak of catching up.

Bony looks to be the perfect physical foil to compliment Aguero and given the hit and miss nature of City's other strikers, the new boy will likely go straight into the team when he returns from African Nations duty with Ivory Coast.

By now, we are all aware that no striker scored more Premier League gaols in the calendar year of 2014 than Bony managed for Swansea.

With Aguero as a partner and compatriot Yaya Toure joining David Silva and Samir Nasri in carving out the chances, the good times are set to continue for Bony.