Cole Palmer £100m Chelsea transfer suggestion sparks passionate Mauricio Pochettino admission

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted «no one expected» Cole Palmer to begin his career at Chelsea in the stupendous fashion he has done.

The 21-year-old scored his 17th, 18th and 19th goal of the season in all competitions for the Blues as his hat-trick inspired the west Londoners to a famous 4-3 victory over Manchester United on Thursday night. After Palmer's first-half penalty added to Conor Gallagher's opener to give Chelsea a two-goal cushion after just 19 minutes, United fought back at Stamford Bridge.

A quick-fire double from first Alejandro Garnacho and then captain Bruno Fernandes ensured the match was level going into the half-time break. After an electric opening 20 minutes, with the stadium bouncing, the two United goals deflated the vast majority of those in SW6.

Garnacho made it 3-2 to the Red Devils on 67 minutes and it took Chelsea over half an hour to find a late, late equaliser. Noni Madueke was fouled inside the box after a clumsy challenge from Diogo Dalot saw referee Jarred Gillett point to the spot for the second time in the game. Palmer, ice-cold as ever, sent Andre Onana the wrong way for the second time in the game.

And if you thought the equaliser was late, what happened next took it to another level. Chelsea were pushing for an unexpected winner at the Bridge and it came courtesy of a short corner where Palmer was one of the only players on the pitch still alert and his deflected strike beat Onana and sent the stadium into rapture.

After the game, an overwhelmed – understandably so – Pochettino addressed the media and was inevitably asked about Palmer and his brilliance. Signed for £42.5million on deadline day last summer, the former Manchester City attacker has been directly involved in a staggering 31