Cole Palmer’s £42.5million move to Chelsea last summer seemed like somewhat of an afterthought amid the Blues’ rather eventful transfer window. The deadline day switch concluded a hectic spending spree for a third successive window under the ownership of Todd Boehly, eclipsing the Blues’ total spend past £1billion since he bought the club in May 2022.
By Luke Bissett
Yet Palmer has quashed all doubts surrounding his hefty transfer tag – continuing to be a shining light in Chelsea’s mediocre season. The 21-year-old has adopted the lead role in West London and boasts 23 goal involvements across just 29 appearances for the Blues this term – 16 of which coming in the Premier League. No small feat in a side that has, at this stage of the season, accumulated its third lowest points tally in the last 29 years.
Prior to his move to Stamford Bridge, there were expectations heading into the campaign that Palmer would be gifted a much more prominent role at Man City by manager Pep Guardiola. And the small sample size evidenced in pre-season seemed to suggest that was the case. The midfielder came off the bench to score City’s only goal in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, in August, before netting the equaliser against Sevilla in their UEFA Super Cup victory just 10 days later.
However, Guardiola was quick to cast doubt over the Englishman’s future at the Etihad Stadium in his post-match press conference that followed the Super Cup triumph.
“The opinion I had is he wanted to leave, but now I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Guardiola.
“I don’t think a loan is going to happen. He’s going to stay or leave, but I think a loan is not going to happen.”
Palmer had made no secret of his desire for regular first team football, having made just three Premier League starts in the three years since his City debut in September 2020. Interest in the 21-year-old was rife following his terrific displays during England Under-21s UEFA European Championship victory last summer, which included the Mancunian assisting the winning goal in the showpiece final against Spain.
This was coupled with the fact that the Citizens were being heavily linked with a move for Rennes winger Jérémy Doku, which would provide further competition for places in City’s attacking line. Palmer did not feature again for Guardiola’s side after his Super Cup heroics, and instead sealed a deadline day move to Chelsea last September.
There was a general air of confusion around the Blues’ outlay for Palmer considering the wealth of attacking talent that had already been signed. But Palmer swiftly put paid to those question marks. The midfielder has been a revelation in West London – flourishing despite a precarious first season for the team under boss Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea sit tenth in the Premier League table and already trail the top four by a sizeable 14 points.
The 21-year-old made an instant impact for the Blues, providing an assist on his first start at Brighton, before being directly involved in three goals across his first three Premier League starts for the club (two goals, one assist). Palmer has quickly become the chief attacking outlet in Pochettino’s side, with his 21 goal involvements the outright most of any of his teammates. Meanwhile, he has started almost twice as many games for the Blues (26) than he did for City (13), while he has surpassed his minutes played at the club ten-fold in just six months (2246 mins for Chelsea as opposed to 1484 mins for Man City).
The versatile Palmer has become a vital component for Chelsea and has been used in a variety of positions across the forward line. He has most typically been deployed on the right of the Blues’ attack – yet the midfielder is certainly not confined to the touchline. Palmer is afforded the freedom to drift inside into the half-spaces, utilising the angles with his favoured left foot to progress the ball beyond the defensive line. In fact, he has played 20 through balls in the league this season – the third most of any player in Europe’s big five leagues.
The 21-year-old has an innate ability to receive the ball between the lines, which allows him to wreak havoc upon opposition defences via intricate passes or elegant forays forward with the ball. He has been used as a No. 10 and as a false nine by Pochettino this season, showcasing just how influential he is in the final third. Indeed, Palmer’s 49 passes into the penalty box is the seventh most of any player in the Premier League across 2023-24.
Additionally, the 21-year-old is supremely effective in tight spaces. He often picks up small pockets in front of the opposition’s back-line before quickly shifting the ball into a teammate. Palmer’s Expected Assists tally of 5.1 also sees him rank 10th across the top-flight, while his 16 direct goal involvements is the eight-most in the division.
The England international has also displayed an impressive ability in front of goal, with the fifth highest shot conversion rate among players with 10+ Premier League goals this season (21%). I fairness, five of his strikes in the league have been penalties, which is the outright most of anyone in the competition. However, that displays the sheer amount of trust that has been placed in him at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder has even been given the nickname ‘Cold Palmer’ due to his uber calm performances.
Chelsea have a chance to win the first major domestic trophy of the season against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday, and there is little doubt that the 21-year-old will be key to any success the Blues will have. And while he may have been frozen out at Manchester City, the ice-cold Palmer has been red-hot at his newfound home.
(Images from IMAGO)
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