Chelsea have a decision to make over their ‘next Kylian Mbappe’. (Image: Getty.)
Chelsea would be remiss not to hand Cole Palmer a lucrative new contract and put him on par with the club’s highest earners after his talismanic displays this season. The £40million summer signing has even been compared to Kylian Mbappe and prompted discussions over a bumper pay rise after just a few months at his new club.
The Blues will be relaxed over Palmer’s future, despite a player of his quality likely to be aiming for Champions League football sooner rather than later, having tied him down until 2030 with the option for a further year, but regardless of this summer’s comings and goings a top priority needs to be ensuring that Palmer feels valued by the club with a new deal.
Both parties are reportedly keen to see his salary reflect his standing in the squad. The 21-year-old is set to have his £75,000-a-week wage doubled after 16 goals and nine assists in 26 Premier League appearances since arriving from Manchester City, but the sooner that Palmer signs the dotted line Chelsea can then relax about their star man’s future.
His performances have led to former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda comparing Palmer to Mbappe, insisting that Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly should be planning future transfers with the new England international in mind.
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Cole Palmer is reportedly set for a bumper new Chelsea contract. (Image: Getty)
“I think that what Palmer has shown this season is the same ability that Mbappe showed when he first burst onto the scene at Monaco,” Malouda said. “Cole is a little bit older than Kylian was when he broke through, but in terms of his decision-making, his calmness and his ability, he reminds me of Mbappe. That tells you everything about his potential and how far he could go.
“Chelsea should be planning to build around Palmer for years to come. We haven’t had a player at Chelsea that the team should be built around in a long time. Every week, Palmer is so reliable. You know exactly what he will give you. I think that is the way forward and that Cole Palmer is the future of Chelsea.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing him perform in the national team because you can see he has this confidence in his own ability, he is ambitious, and he has his own style. He is a unique player.”
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Cole Palmer has been indispensable for Chelsea this season. (Image: Getty)
Time is certainly on Chelsea’s side with six years left to run on Palmer’s current deal, but the Blues hierarchy will not want their star man having off-the-field complaints while the team underperforms in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Very few pieces of Chelsea’s business have been heralded as much as their signing of Palmer and tying down the winger needs to be regarded as a top priority, though another busy summer of incomings and outgoings are expected.
A clear-out will likely be required in order to appease the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, but funds will have to be set aside to reward Palmer for his maiden season in west London.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1886990/Chelsea-transfer-news-Kylian-Mbappe-Cole-Palmer