It seems like Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer is ready to put any questions to bed about whether he is a one-season wonder with the phenomenal start he has made the 2024/2025 campaign.
Palmer (six goals and four assists) is tied with Erling Haaland (10 goals) in terms of having the most goal contributions in the Premier League this season.
Much like in the cases of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah where Chelsea were widely slated for letting them go for years, Manchester City could face the same number of questions for selling the 22-year-old.
Unlike in the cases of Romeo Lavia, Morgan Rogers and Liam Delap, the England international has not just left the Etihad Stadium and looked like a quality young player.
Palmer is unquestionably one of the best players in the Premier League and across European football.
The Wythenshawe-born attacker also looks like he is a top player as both a number 10 as well as on the right-wing.
Michael Brown shares behind the scenes Palmer plan at Man City
The only way Pep Guardiola’s men can continue to silence any questions about their decision to let Palmer leave last summer is by winning major silverware.
As things stand, Chelsea are not best-placed to win major trophies.
In the Premier League, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool seem like they are in far better positions to challenge for the title.
As for the Champions League, the Blues have not qualified for the competition since the start of last season.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, Michael Brown revealed what he was told by an insider at Manchester City about their plan for Palmer.
At the time, the PFA Young Player of the Year award-winner had not joined Chelsea.
Brown disclosed: “City’s plan was to weave him into the team, give him more minutes, he was possibly going to go out last year on loan. I spoke to somebody at City and they said the plan was, [James] McAtee would come back, he would go and get a year’s football and then I know full well there were several clubs desperate to get Cole Palmer.”
“Chelsea just didn’t go away and they decided to sell him.”
Alan Shearer praised Palmer for leaving Manchester City instead of waiting to become a starter at his boyhood club.
Phil Foden must ease Cole Palmer heartbreak at Manchester City
Ultimately, while witnessing their former academy graduate work his magic at Chelsea must be a painful sight for Manchester City, the presence of Phil Foden must ease their disappointment.
Foden, much like Palmer is also a versatile attacker and last season, he was voted as the best player in the Premier League by his peers at the PFA awards.
At 24, the Stockport-born midfielder is yet to reach his prime and yet, not many players in world football are on par with him.
Foden is one of the faces of Manchester City as a club, he shares a brilliant connection with the supporters and he signed a contract extension at the Etihad Stadium until 2027 two years ago.
Considering City have a player who is arguably even more gifted and accomplished than Palmer in their ranks who seems to adore the club in the six-time Premier League winner, they must not be completely heartbroken to have lost their once-academy starlet to Chelsea.
