Paul Merson Predicts Chelsea's Summer Sale of Cole Palmer
Premier League legend Paul Merson has sparked debate by claiming Chelsea would be willing to sell star midfielder Cole Palmer this summer for a substantial fee. In a detailed analysis, Merson pointed to a specific moment during Chelsea's recent match against Brentford as evidence of underlying issues at the club.
The 'Strange' Celebration That Raised Eyebrows
Merson highlighted Palmer's reaction after scoring a penalty against Brentford last weekend, describing it as "a bit strange". He noted that the England international did not celebrate with teammates or fans, which he interpreted as a potential sign of discontent. "Call me a cynic, but I noticed how he didn’t celebrate with his teammates or the fans. That was strange for me," Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda.
Chelsea's Transfer Strategy and the £120m Price Tag
According to Merson, Chelsea have a clear figure in mind for any potential sale. "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," he stated. This comes amid speculation that Palmer might be open to a return to Manchester, though no formal offers have been reported.
Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2023 for £40 million and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's top talents. In his debut season at Stamford Bridge, he scored an impressive 27 goals, followed by 18 in the 2024-25 campaign. However, this season has been more challenging due to injuries, including a chronic groin problem and a freak toe injury that limited him to just three appearances before December.
Tactical Concerns and Injury Management
Merson also expressed concerns about how Chelsea are utilising Palmer on the pitch. "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," he argued. Merson believes that playing on the right makes Palmer too easy to mark, as seen in the recent Fulham game where he was effectively contained by Antonee Robinson.
Despite these issues, Palmer has started the last eight Premier League games, scoring three goals. Chelsea are carefully managing his workload under manager Liam Rosenior, who recently left him out of the Champions League squad against Pafos due to a minor thigh problem. Merson acknowledged this cautious approach, saying, "Liam Rosenior is looking after Cole Palmer quite well."
What Lies Ahead for Palmer and Chelsea?
The future remains uncertain for the 23-year-old midfielder. While he is likely to be pivotal to any success Chelsea achieve this season, the combination of injury setbacks, tactical disagreements, and transfer rumours has created a cloud of speculation. Merson concluded, "It will be interesting to see what happens with Palmer in the future amid rumours of a move away from Chelsea."
As the summer transfer window approaches, all eyes will be on whether any club meets Chelsea's reported £120 million valuation and if Palmer's "strange" celebration was indeed a sign of deeper issues at Stamford Bridge.
