Interesting analysis. Have you considered the popular, possibly even accurate, perception that the EPL (and the English FA in general) is a physically rougher league? That, in concert with 'homegrown player' rule, might help to explain it: players who grow up in the English system learn to handle rougher play and aren't surprised or much taken aback when they get to the EPL.
For instance, I remember when Angel Di Maria came to ManU. Yes, I know he's not a striker, but I think his experiences might be indicative and likely applicable to strikers... I loved his play at Madrid and in international comps so I thought he would do great at United. He started off well, but injuries and, I think, full-body-bruising set in. After all, he's physically little thicker than a popsicle stick and by all accounts an exceptional technical player. Great footwork and a fantastic passer, but none of that really helps when you're being manhandled by Martin Skrtel or run over by Victor Wanyama. Not even a complete season and they mailed him off to PSG, where he quickly returned to form.
I think the same thing happened to Dmitri Payet, who briefly shone at West Ham, but quickly soured and went back to France. There are other examples, but I think I've wasted enough of your time here...
On the other hand, even Mo Saleh and Kevin De Bruyne didn't impress much when they first came to the league. It took them, I think, first some time to adjust and secondly managers who prize technical play over being proper hard, Klopp in the case of Saleh and Guardiola in the case of KDB, before they really started to shine.
Conversely, I think this also might help explain why the English team doesn't always do as well as might be expected in international play. A certain re-calibration is needed to switch to a different style of play (and to practice using your eyes for opportunities and not avoiding punishing tackles) primarily technical play, and while they are attempting to do just that, the other teams are overwhelming them...
Just a few thoughts.
