“They will sell him for £100 million” - Paul Merson makes emphatic claim about Chelsea ace Cole Palmer
Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Chelsea could sell Cole Palmer for £100m. The English midfielder has been outstanding since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in the summer of 2023.
Palmer registered 25 goals and 15 assists from 45 appearances last season and established himself under Mauricio Pochettino. The 22-year-old was a rare shining light in a dismal season for the Blues as he won the club's Player of the Year award. Palmer was also adjudged the Premier League Young Player of the Year, the PFA Fan's Player of the Year, and the PFA Young Player of the Year.
The London giants invested heavily in the squad this summer following the arrival of Enzo Maresca. Chelsea brought in a plethora of young footballers, as has been the recent trend, but they also moved on from a few players. The Blues offloaded Conor Gallagher, Romelu Lukaku, and Ian Maatsen, among others, to help balance the books.
The London giants haven't been afraid to make controversial decisions in the market and have even received criticism for their strategy. Merson recently said the club are not letting players serve out their contracts, thus insisting that they could offload Nicolas Jackson if he hits a good streak this season. He added that Chelsea could sell Palmer as well.
“If [Nicolas] Jackson scores 25 goals next season, they will sell him. If Palmer becomes unbelievable and keeps on doing what he is doing, then he will be a £100m player. They will sell him for £100m. That’s how it works,” Merson said (via Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel). (4:50)
Palmer is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
Can Chelsea afford to offload Cole Palmer?
Cole Palmer rose through the ranks at Manchester City and was highly rated at the Etihad. He opted to leave the Premier League champions after failing to get a steady run in the team and has been rewarded for his decision.
The Englishman is already one of the finest in his position in the league and has a huge career ahead of him. Still only 22, Palmer is bound to get better as he gathers experience and brushes shoulders with some of the best in the game.
While he hasn't had the best of starts for Chelsea this season, the player has still registered one goal and four assists from six games across competitions. The Blues are looking to get back to their best under Enzo Maresca and would be better advised to hold on to Palmer for as long as possible.