How Cole Palmer has justified £42.5m Chelsea gamble ahead of Man City return
Cole Palmer has been making waves at Chelsea since his summer move from Manchester City. The 21-year-old, who cost up to £42.5million, has been impressing with his performances ahead of his return to the Etihad Stadium.
Palmer's stats have been impressive since leaving Man City. He made 41 appearances and scored six goals for City over three seasons. But at Chelsea, he's already played 2,178 minutes in just 28 games, scoring 12 goals and providing nine assists.
One memorable moment was when he scored a late penalty against his old club in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Now a regular first-team player at Chelsea, Palmer is showing his potential.
However, the last 18 months have not met Chelsea's high standards. The Blues, who were European champions in 2021, didn't win any trophies last season and ended up 12th in the Premier League. Despite their poor league performance this season, they're still competing in both domestic cups and are set to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final later this month, thanks largely to the standout performances of Palmer.
Mauricio Pochettino has players like Enzo Fernandez, Christopher Nkunku and Conor Gallagher at his disposal, but he's yet to find a winning combination. Palmer not only helped secure the treble, but also scored the equalising goal that led to City's first Super Cup win against Sevilla last August. There's potential for him to add more silverware to his collection with Chelsea.
Palmer earned his first England call-up last November after impressing with his performances for Chelsea. He joined the Three Lions for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, coming off the bench in both matches.
What Mauricio Pochettino told Chelsea players at half-time
Read on football.london
