The Blues identified the striker as a transfer target weeks ago and their interest was sparked by talent scout Joe Shields, who knows the 21-year-old from his days as head of academy recruitment and talent management at Manchester City.
There’s no doubt that Palmer is a talent. He was one of England’s best players in this summer’s European Under-21 Championship triumph, he scored a brilliant goal against Arsenal in this month’s Community Shield and some have compared him to Phil Foden.
But £45m is a lot considering he’s only started three times in the Premier League and it’s not clear where he fits in Chelsea’s glut of attacking options.
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With transfer spending approaching £1bn since last summer, do Chelsea really need to spend more money on another striker?
Palmer’s best position is as a right winger or as number 10. If all are fit, he will compete for a spot on the wing with Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and even Ian Maatsen and new winger Ben Chilwell.
After a strong start to the season, Sterling appears to have a firm grip on the right flank position. Madueke represented him in Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon, winning and taking a penalty to help Chelsea avoid a Carabao Cup shock at Stamford Bridge.
Gamble: Chelsea’s £45m move for Cole Palmer leaves Mauricio Pochettino with a selection conundrum
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After scoring a goal in the Super Cup this month, Palmer admitted his future at City may depend on his playing time, saying: “I just want to play football.”
His move to Chelsea, where there is arguably more competition for a regular starting spot than at Etihad, looks like a risky move for his career.
Palmer will of course be committed to making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge, but it’s a bold move for a player who has made 41 appearances for City since his debut in 2020, scoring six goals.
Selling Palmer is also a risk for City. If he becomes a star, they let him go for a relatively modest sum.
The move is also a gamble for Chelsea, who are set to sign another young striker on a six- or seven-year deal.
Source : www.standard.co.uk