The Man City star who NEEDS his Cole Palmer transfer

Updated: 28 Jul 2024 16:35 BST
4 min read

Cole Palmer, Man City, Chelsea — © IMAGO

With Cole Palmer becoming THE breakout star of the Premier League last season, the Chelsea star may have given one of his former Manchester City teammates thoughts over his own future.

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Palmer had been at City’s academy since the age of eight but the 22-year-old had made just 19 Premier League appearances for his boyhood club before his €47 million transfer to Chelsea last summer.

And not even Palmer himself could quite have predicted the rise in his reputation over the past year, winning the Premier League Young Player of the Year award and making a crucial impact for England at Euro 2024.

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Palmer was highly-rated by City and was slowly progressing under Pep Guardiola but the youngster’s decision to gamble on his future and leave the Premier League champions has proven to be an inspired call.

While City have continued to blood in young talent, their focus will always remain on maintaining their status among Europe’s elite by signing proven stars and predominately using youth in cameo roles and cup competitions.

Having signed another wonderkid in Savinho this summer, the Brazilian’s arrival, combined with the Palmer fairytale, should leave City prospect Oscar Bobb questioning his own future at the club.

© IMAGO - Oscar Bobb needs game time at Man City next season.

Bobb approaching crossroads over future at Manchester City

Bobb made his Premier League debut the day after Palmer joined Chelsea, effectively replacing his former teammate in the rotation on the right wing for City.

The 21-year-old provided some useful minutes for City over the course of the campaign, playng 26 times in all competitions, scoring twice, although only two of his appearances were starts in the league.

Compared

VS

2023/2024

Season Statistics

2023/2024

48	Appearances	24
3794	Minutes Played	784
27	Goals	2
15	Assists	1
94	Key Passes	20
1813	Passes	423
143	Shots Total	12
30	Tackles	14
27	Interceptions	4

With the likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and the new kid Savinho among his rivals at right wing, Bobb’s chances of consistent first team football appear slim.

The competition for minutes in attack has even seen World Cup winner Julian Alvarez look to leave City and Bobb may be wise in also considering whether he should emulate Palmer in leaving for a bigger role elsewhere.

City are thought to be open to loaning Bobb out, while Newcastle are among the sides thought to be keen on the Norwegian if he was available, and a move to a Premier League side with less to play for could be the catalyst to proving his ability at the top level.

With his club unlikely to stand in his way if he did wish to leave, the decision comes down to Bobb on whether he is willing to bet on himself and becoming the next Cole Palmer or potentially fading into obscurity among City’s wealth of riches.