Ferdinand and Cole agree Chelsea made Premier League signing of the season

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 7 Apr 2024 10:47 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have been hammered for their transfer business with Todd Boehly splashing £200m on an underperforming squad, but he got one of them right according to Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole.

The Blues have suffered a bad case of the blues this season, Mauricio Pochettino's side only ninth in the Premier League table despite their astronomical outlay.

They have put together a decent run of late, though, undefeated in six games following Thursday's 4-3 win over Manchester United.

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Cole Palmer scored an injury-time brace in that game, and the £40 million summer arrival from Manchester City is the signing of the season league-wide according to former England stars Ferdinand and Cole.

Cole: 'I still think it'

"I said it after the game in the height of excitement and I'm sober today and I still think it, I think so," Cole told TNT Sports, doubling down on his assertion. "I can't see an argument against, for the money Chelsea paid for him and the age he's at and what he's done for Chelsea.

"I shudder to think where Chelsea would be if Cole Palmer hadn’t put pen to paper."

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Palmer has 16 goals and eight assists in 25 Premier League games for Chelsea, and has added another seven direct goal-involvements across all competitions. He now looks a shoo-in to make England's squad for the Euros.

Ferdinand also praised Palmer, but he thinks Palmer might have competition, unlike former Chelsea star Cole.

"Yeah, I think he has to be [the signing of the season]," he said. "[Alexis] Mac Allister has put in a case towards now. He scored a great goal the other day. "At the business end of the season, he has come to the fore. But I think if you look at the numbers this kid [Palmer] has put up, he’s a young boy as well…"