Man City are champions - but they made a HUGE mistake with Cole Palmer

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 20 May 2024 12:11 BST
4 min read

Chelsea of late are not a side you'd class as being good in the art of recruitment, but their addition of Cole Palmer has been nothing short of stunning.

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Who would have thought, the youngster acting as a peripheral figure in the shadows at Manchester City would turn out to be one of the best Premier League players of this year?

Palmer has provided the most goal contributions of any player in the division with 22 goals and 11 assists, just one above Erling Haaland.

Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in September, signing a seven-year contract, with the option of a further year - with the reported to be an initial £40 million, potentially rising by £2.5 million in add-ons.

In Premier League terms, and considering the fact there is the English tax to consider, it was a superb piece of business.

Now of course, Man City will be too busy celebrating their Premier League title win to care too much, but there is a nagging feeling that keeping hold of Palmer would have served them better in the long run.

Cole Palmer finishes the season with the most goals & assists in the Premier League (33 G/A) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kMMlZ3e5Yn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2024

Palmer is a versatile attacker and someone who could eventually take over from Kevin De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva in the coming years. At such a young age and showing this much form, it's unfortunate for the Citizens that he has gone away and excelled at a rival club, though they would not like to admit it.

© IMAGO - Cole Palmer has been one of the best players of the season

Man City have their own Premier League Player of the Season in Phil Foden and there are a million and one things for the club to revel in right now. But the idea that selling Palmer was the right thing to do lacks merit, particularly at such a low cost.

It will be one that got away for Man City - but they must not get stuck in the trap of keeping their legacy players happy at the detriment of their future talents.

Palmer's goals and assists for Chelsea in the coming years will haunt them, if it is not doing so already.