Paul Merson believes Chelsea will cash in in Cole Palmer this summer for the right price – believing there is already a figure in mind.
Palmer joined the Blues from Manchester City in 2023 for £40million with the attacking midfielder evolving into one of the best players in the Premier League in west London.
The 23-year-old scored 27 times in his first season at Stamford Bridge, hitting 18 during the 2024-25 campaign but has struggled to reach those heights this term.
While a chronic groin problem and a freak toe injury limited him to just three appearances before December, he has now started the last eight Premier League games, scoring three in that period.
Chelsea are still carefully managing Palmer’s workload having also picked up a minor thigh problem following Liam Rosenior’s appointment, left out of the squad for the midweek Champions League game against Pafos.
This week, there has been sudden speculation over Palmer’s future in the capital with one report suggesting he would be open to returning to Manchester.
Premier League legend Merson also has growing doubts, pointing to Palmer’s ‘strange’ celebration after his goal against Brentford last weekend.
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While the England international will likely be pivotal to any success Chelsea have this season, Merson says an offer of £120million would see his club happily cash in.
‘Liam Rosenior is looking after Cole Palmer quite well. But when Palmer scored the penalty against Brentford last week, I thought his celebration was a bit strange,’ Merson wrote for Sportskeeda.
‘Call me a cynic, but I noticed how he didn’t celebrate with his teammates or the fans. That was strange for me.
‘Chelsea must keep Palmer happy. But I’ve always said it, if some other club offers £120 million for Palmer, Chelsea will sell him. That is what Chelsea always do in the transfer market.
‘I’m also not happy about Chelsea playing Palmer on the right. He needs to play as a no.10 with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez or Reece James behind him. Just give him a free role.
‘When Palmer plays on the right, he’s too easy to pick up. We saw that when he went up against Antonee Robinson during the Fulham game. So why put him there?
‘It will be interesting to see what happens with Palmer in the future amid rumours of a move away from Chelsea.’
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