Sadio Mane, Christopher Nkunku and Patrik Schick: the contenders to rival Robert Lewandowski as Bundesliga top scorer

bundesliga.com runs the rule over the leading contenders…

Patrik Schick

Age: 26

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Country: Czech Republic

The Bayer Leverkusen forward ran Lewandowski closest last season, hitting 24 Bundesliga goals in just 27 appearances to the Bayern man's 35 in 34. If he hadn't missed out through a number of minor injuries over the course of the campaign, the 26-year-old could well have finished even closer to the Pole: Schick averaged a goal every 86 minutes - Lewandowski one every 84.

It came as no surprise them, that Leverkusen extended the Czech Republic forward's contract through to 2027 in May. "Patrik had a fantastic season and has shown his world-class ability in his position," said sporting director Simon Rolfes.

Watch: The best of Patrik Schick

"There are few centre-forwards of his calibre on the European stage. In addition to Patrik's exceptional sporting qualities as a complete striker, he also has the abilities of a leader to provide stability and guidance to the team on the pitch."

Going into a second season under head coach Gerardo Seoane, who guided Die Werkself to third place in his debut Bundesliga campaign, Schick is surely the prime rival for this season's Torjägerkanone.

Christopher Nkunku

Age: 24

Club: RB Leipzig

Country: French

That is not to say that he will be the only one. Nkunku also put pen to paper on fresh terms over the summer, tying him to Leipzig until 2026, after a spectacular campaign that culminated in the club's DFB Cup triumph, as well as the France international being named as Bundesliga Player of the Season.

The 24-year-old finished as the fourth-highest scorer with 20 league goals, in addition to 13 assists, underlining his reputation as one of the most fearsome attackers in the game.

Watch: Discover why Nkunku was named as Player of the Season

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"I'm pleased to continue wearing the RB Leipzig shirt," Nkunku said after his new contract was announced. "After our great achievement in winning the DFB Cup, it was clear that my story here isn't over yet - we want more. Leipzig have made a name for themselves on the international stage in recent years and have shown time and again that we can compete for titles. We want to build on that going forward and go one step further."

With the 2022 World Cup approaching in November, Nkunku will be eyeing more of the same as he seeks to nail down his spot in France's squad, having (inexplicably) only earned the first of six caps to date as recently as March this year.

Sadio Mane

Age: 30

Club: Bayern Munich

Country: Senegal

Mane may need some time to settle into his new surroundings, but his goalscoring credentials are there for all to see. He finished as the Premier League's joint-top marksman in 2018/19 with 22, while the Senegalese star posted 120 goals in 269 outings for Liverpool overall.

Much may depend on how and where head coach Julian Nagelsmann decides to field his marquee summer signing: on the left wing? More centrally? As a partner to Lewandowski?

Not that it matters to Mane himself. "I think I'm one of the lucky players who can play in three or four positions on the pitch," the 30-year-old said. "I'm a player who is almost comfortable in all these positions. As long as the coach is happy to put me not in defence or as goalkeeper, I think I'll be more than happy to play in any position for him and for the club as well."

Quick, agile, full of tireless running and elusive movement, it's a safe bet to assume Mane will be among the goals this season.

Andre Silva

Age: 26

Club: RB Leipzig

Country: Portugal

Silva scored 12 Bundesliga goals in his first season at Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019/20, before serving notice of his finishing ability with 28 the following campaign. The Portugal international credited his remarkable upswing to the fact that he had adapted to his new surrounding and teammates in the second year, making it easier for him to find the net.

All of which bodes well for Silva and Leipzig as the 26-year-old embarks on his second year at the Red Bull Arena, having notched 11 league goals last term. The team improved greatly once Domenico Tedesco took over in December 2021, averaging two points and 2.45 goals per game under the 36-year-old, so it appears everything is falling into place for another goal-packed season for Silva.

"Andre is an absolutely top-class striker with incredible finishing ability," Tedesco said earlier this year. "But goals isn't the only thing we judge our forwards by. For example, Andre is very good at linking the play and he can hold the ball up really well."

Another season in tandem with Nkunku up front and we'll soon need a nickname for what is sure to be a prolific strike pairing. Silvunku? Nkilva? Answers on the back of a postcard…

Sasa Kalajdzic

Age: 24

Club: VfB Stuttgart

Country: Austria

Kalajdzic only made 15 Bundesliga appearances in 2021/22, largely due to a long-term shoulder injury that forced him to miss almost all of the first half of the season. Still, he underscored his credentials as a bonafide top-level striker with six goals, never going more than three games without finding the net.

Having scored 16 times in 33 games in his maiden Bundesliga campaign in 2020/21, there are no doubts about his qualities - chief among them his aerial threat as he puts his towering 6'6" frame to good use in opposition penalty areas.

"On top of his qualities in the box you can see his ability when it comes to linking up, his intelligent movement and his leadership qualities," purred Stuttgart head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo of his star man last term. "He opens his mouth and talks to his teammates, he's always constructive and positive."

A fully fit and firing Kalajdzic this time around should steer VfB well clear of relegation danger - and could propel their Austrian forward high up the scoring chart.

Karim Adeyemi

Age: 20

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Country: Germany

If height and headers are among the chief weapons in Kalajdzic's arsenal, Adeyemi boasts a very different skillset. He's quick - very quick.

"His pace and goal threat are impressive," said Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl after the 20-year-old's summer transfer from Red Bull Salzburg was announced.

There is plenty of end product to go with his ground speed though: Adeyemi posted 23 goals and nine assists in 44 outings for the Austrian champions last season. Germany head coach Hansi Flick was impressed enough to hand him a maiden senior cap for Die Mannschaft, and the Munich native responded with a goal on his debut.

With the likes of Marco Reus, Gio Reyna, Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen in the supply chain, Adeyemi will surely get plenty of chances to showcase his finishing ability this term.

Lucas Alario

Age: 29

Club: Eintracht Frankfurt

Country: Argentina

Alario may never have scored more than 11 goals in a single Bundesliga season in five years at Leverkusen - hardly top scorer material - but hear us out. He made a total of 126 league appearances for Die Werkself, but only 56 of those were starts. Against that backdrop, his return of 42 goals remains very respectable.

And this is a player who, when given a run in the side, tends to respond with goals. For example, in 2020/21 he struck seven times in five consecutive games as a starter. And after all, you don't become a full international in an Argentina attack featuring the likes of Leo Messi for nothing.

His summer move to Frankfurt offers the 29-year-old a fresh start and the prospect of Champions League football as part of an attack-minded side under the shrewd guidance of Oliver Glasner means he should get plenty of chances - not least from Filip Kostic's pinpoint deliveries from the left.

On top of that, Alario will link up with fellow Spanish speaker and former River Plate teammate Rafael Borre at Deutsche Bank Park, increasing the chances of him hitting the ground running. Alario may not be the favourite for the top scorer's crown, but don't write him off just yet.

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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