The race to the top of the Eredivisie scoring charts

The race to head the goalscoring charts in the Eredivisie is hotting up with a host of players in with a chance of picking up the accolade.

Cody Gakpo's departure has left FC Utrecht's Anastasios Douvikas leading the rankings despite his side being 12 points off the top of the league table.

As the battle to secure the title rages on, we look at the leading marksmen in the Dutch top flight.

Anastasios Douvikas (FC Utrecht)

FC Utrecht currently sit seventh in the Eredivisie, but that has not stopped Douvikas from rattling in the goals across 17 appearances this season.

The 23-year-old has a total of 12 goal contributions and bagged a hat-trick against AZ Alkmaar at the weekend to send him to the top of the scoring charts.

Despite his flurry of goals in recent weeks, the Greek international will have to maintain his form if he is to remain in his current position at the top.

Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Xavi Simons has thrived in the Netherlands since he made the switch from Paris Saint-Germain last summer and his form suggests he could be in with a shout for individual awards at the end of the season.

With nine strikes and three assists in 19 appearances for PSV Eindhoven, the 19-year-old is on track to become one of the youngest-ever players to top the list of elite goalscorers.

Utilised in a number of different positions by boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, Simons has been an ever-present operating most often in an attacking midfield role.

Vangelis Pavlidis (AZ Alkmaar)

Vangelis Pavlidis' form for AZ Alkmaar has been key to helping his side stay in touch with Feyenoord in the race for the title.

His nine goals this season have come in just 11 appearances for a club that sit only two points off the top of the table.

Another Greek international, the 24-year-old has scored seven goals in his last six matches and is going to be a key contributor for Alkmaar as they chase a first Eredivisie title since 2008-09.

Steven Bergwijn (Ajax)

Steven Bergwijn has settled in well at Ajax despite some recent struggles in front of goal for the former Tottenham forward.

He is one of five players who sit on eight goals for the season but the Dutch star has not bagged since November and risks falling out of touch with the leaders if his form does not pick up soon.

Often relying on pace and skill to beat his man, Bergwijn has never had an issue when it comes to fashioning goalscoring opportunities, but it was his end product that meant Spurs were willing to sell him last summer.

Danilo (Feyenoord)

The league leaders have scored 43 goals this year and eight of them have come from Brazilian striker Danilo.

Aged 23, the Sao Paulo-born finisher has netted some crucial strikes this season, including a goal in the 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar.

Having made the switch from Ajax last summer, Danilo will hope to surpass the 17 goals he netted on loan at FC Twente in 2020-21.

Brian Brobbey (Ajax)

Brian Brobbey is the second Ajax player in contention to top the goalscoring charts at the end of the season — his eight strikes have him tied with team-mate Bergwijn.

The young Dutchman is a key player for a club struggling to replicate their recent dominance which has seen the Amsterdam giants win the last three Eredivisie titles.

Brobbey has been averaging a goal every 130 mins for his boyhood club but has not found the net since October.

Burak Yilmaz (Fortuna Sittard)

Eight of Fortuna Sittard's 25 goals this term have come courtesy of Burak Yilmaz who signed from Lille ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 77-cap Turkish international has transformed Sittard's fortunes after they finished 15th last term.

Yilmaz lifted the Ligue 1 title during his spell in France and the veteran 37-year-old will use all his experience to continue his goalscoring exploits.

Orkun Kokcu (Feyenoord)

Yilmaz's international team-mate Okrun Kokcu is our final participant in the hotly-contested race.

Feyenoord's No10 has eight goals and one assist in 18 Eredivisie appearances this season.

An academy product, the central midfielder is a crucial component to Arne Slot's bid to lead the Rotterdam outfit to glory this season.