Cole Palmer is taking the headlines for the performances he has been putting in since moving to Chelsea in the previous season, and in such a short space of time he has established himself as a key cog in West London. Everything good coming out of the Blues goes through him at the moment, as the 22-year-old has established himself as one of the best players in the English top tier.
Palmer joined Chelsea in a deadline-day move from Manchester City as the West Londoners paid a hefty £42.5m price tag for his signatures, a sum deemed crazy at that time, yet it looks more and more of a bargain every time he takes field.
The Man City academy graduate was named Premier League Young Player of the Year in the last campaign. He has contributed to 44 goals since his move to Chelsea, a figure more than anyone else in the league. And former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been raving reviews about the 22-year-old.
Cesc impressed by Palmer impact
The Como coach believes that the England international is kind of a player you would want to build your team around. Speaking on the Planet Premier League podcast, he acknowledged the quality that Cole possesses while claiming that ideally, you’d want him to get on the ball as much as possible. The former Arsenal maestro goes on to rave about how things become clear and easier for Chelsea when Palmer has the ball.
Cesc said:
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“When someone is that special, when someone makes you see and feel that whatever happens in the team he is a game changer, I believe so [you can build a team around them]. It is fair to say it could be the right thing to do, even if as coaches we hate to say this kind of thing because we want to protect the team and the collective, but when you have someone that good and with such an impact on the pitch, I think the team see that themselves and they want Palmer to get on the ball as much as possible.
“When he has the ball it feels like everything is slow and everything becomes very clear in his eyes. He is able to play any pass at any angle on the pitch. I think it is possible when a player is that special to create a team around him.”
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Palmer has become one of the first names on the team sheet at Stamford Bridge, and long may it continue. However, with his talent, it will be interesting to see how his role evolves with the Three Lions going forward as Bukayo Saka doesn the right-wing space for England.
