Sky Bet EFL: Best bets and predictions for the top goalscorer in Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two
The top goalscorer race is one in which every team wants to have a participant. Tom Carnduff selects four big-priced contenders to consider.
Recommended bets
1pt e.w. Lyle Taylor to be the top goalscorer in the Sky Bet Championship at 66/1
1pt e.w. Sam Gallagher to be the top goalscorer in the Sky Bet Championship at 80/1
2pts e.w. Freddie Ladapo to be the top goalscorer in Sky Bet League One at 25/1
1pt e.w. Matt Warburton to finish as top goalscorer in Sky Bet League Two at 80/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
The race for the Golden Boot award in each of the three divisions is one that always excites, and one where we often see a star demonstrating their abilities.
It's an area in which every team wants to participate. A prolific goalscorer significantly enhances your chances of success.
Take the 2018/19 season as an example. Norwich's Teemu Pukki picked up the accolade in the Sky Bet Championship, while James Collins' 25 goals for Luton were enough to finish top of the charts in League One.
In Sky Bet League Two, Tranmere's talisman James Norwood hit 29 to not only finish as the top goalscorer in his division, but joint-top of the charts across the four top leagues in England too.
The link between those three clubs, alongside having a regular goalscorer leading the line, is that they all achieved promotion at the end of the season.
That doesn't mean that having the top goalscorer will always get you promoted. Chris Wood's 27 goals in 2016/17 weren't enough to get Leeds up, or even into the play-offs, and the same can be said for Matej Vydra who hit 21 for Derby in 2017/18.
With that in mind, there is value to be had in backing those who aren't at the front of the markets. Those who will feature for teams who aren't the title favourites, but are more than capable of finding the net.
The first of the four selections will likely fall into the category of being outside of the promotion mix, but that shouldn't stop him from striking on multiple occasions.
Charlton striker LYLE TAYLOR proved himself to be a key part of their promotion back to Championship level last season.
The 29-year-old struck 25 times in all competitions, but also contributed a further 13 assists. Direct involvement in 38 goals is outstanding at any level, an eye for goal which only few possess.
Not only is it the talent that he brings to the pitch, but Taylor seems to have found a place where he clearly enjoys playing football.
In an interview with Sporting Life after their success in the play-off final at Wembley, Taylor's fondness for the club, the fans and, most importantly, manager Lee Bowyer shone through.
"He's a great man, honestly he's a great man," Taylor said of Bowyer. "It's been a pleasure. I said to him 'thank you' and he said to me 'no, thank you for choosing this club'.
"I chose the club because of him. So, it's a full circle, he wanted me, he thanked me for choosing here and I chose here because of him. We've done it together."
That relationship has had a clear impact on the pitch. The striker enjoyed his most prolific campaign under Bowyer, and he should continue to impress while at the Valley.
Elsewhere, there is each-way value to be had on Blackburn striker SAM GALLAGHER, who returns to Ewood Park having previously spent time on-loan at the club.
He worked under current boss Tony Mowbray for the final 15 games of the 2016/17 season. Blackburn were relegated that season, even with a managerial change, although Gallagher managed to post 12 goals then.
Gallagher's record at Birmingham wasn't as good as hoped, with just seven goals in 34 appearances, but Blackburn have a manager who can really unlock his potential.
Throw in the fact that there's competition for places in the forward positions and Gallagher will be pushed throughout the season to constantly perform at his best.
We'll see a different Blackburn side next season. A few new faces have joined, but Rovers will be playing a more possession-based game after work by Mowbray over the summer.
There won't be such a reliance on playing through the middle. Gallagher will bring physical attributes alongside an eye for goal which should see him top the Rovers scoring charts.
Into Sky Bet League One, and it's worth backing FREDDIE LADAPO to enjoy another prolific season despite the change of environment.
The 26-year-old has had a varied career so far, struggling to establish himself in one place with 14 clubs already on his CV. That said, that includes youth moves and loan spells in non-league.
For Plymouth, he demonstrated he knew where the net was. Despite the Pilgrims' relegation, Ladapo still scored 19 goals across the season.
Former Plymouth boss Derek Adams also made an interesting admission that Crystal Palace were reluctant to sell him to Southend in January 2018 before finally sanctioning a move.
The Premier League side clearly felt he had some potential, but it was a case of whether that could be fulfilled at the top level.
Last season can be a massive confidence boost for him though and he should continue to hit the net with Rotherham who will be battling for promotion back to the Championship.
The fact that Portsmouth and Sunderland, two of last season's beaten play-off teams, were chasing his signature this summer shows how high his stock is in England's third tier.
I really like the price on this final selection given what we've seen from him at non-league level.
Northampton moved quickly to bring MATT WARBURTON in given how he was a player in-demand. Warburton was named Stockport's player of the season after scoring 27 goals in all competitions.
In his two seasons at Edgeley Park, he scored 48 goals in total. That's alongside the 40 goals that came in 2018. Stockport isn't the only club where he has enjoyed a prolific spell though.
Warburton netted 13 goals in 16 games at Curzon Ashton, while also striking regularly during his time at Salford City.
He's a player that possesses all the attacking qualities required to score goals. Despite operating as a number 10 or attacking midfielder, Warburton is often scoring from the edge of the six-yard box.
A creative player with talent on the ball but also the instinct of a poacher. Not only does he score from close range, but Warburton can be a threat from set-pieces as well as hitting the target from outside the area.
Warburton joining Northampton has all the potential to be the best deal done by an EFL club this summer.
Odds correct at 1000 BST (26/07/19)
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