Gary Neville was holding out hope that Cole Palmer would leave Chelsea (Image: Getty)
Gary Neville has joked that it will be somewhat impossible for any side to sign Cole Palmer due to his contract length at Chelsea.
The playmaker took the Premier League by storm in the 2023/24 campaign, and he has picked up where he left off with six goals and four assists in six appearances so far this season.
Chelsea rewarded Palmer with a new contract over the summer, extending his stay at Stamford Bridge until 2033 in an immense show of faith. He was previously tied down until 2031 at the club.
It is not the first time that Chelsea have handed out mammoth contracts to signings, in a strategy that has already backfired in some situations. However, with Palmer progressing at a rate of knots, it is unlikely that the No. 20 will be a player that Todd Boehly and co regret offering such a significant contract to.
The extended deal will also ensure that Chelsea hold all the power in negotiations if teams attempt to lure Palmer away from the club, and Neville has joked at how much of an annoyance that is given that the England international grew up as a Manchester United fan and thus was holding out hope that a transfer could be on the cards at some stage.
Speaking on his recent Overlap show, the ex-United star said: “I mean, seriously. He [Cole Palmer] plays for Manchester City as a kid, he supports Manchester United, then he goes to Chelsea and starts scoring 3000 goals and signs a 42-year contract so we can’t even get him back!
Cole Palmer has hit the ground running this season (Image: Getty)
“Palmer has an unbelievable understanding of the game, unbelievable technical ability and the composure in front of goal.
“When you put those three together, that’s really, really special. And you cannot believe right now, sat here how Man City have got that one so wrong.
Cole Palmer extended his contract with Chelsea earlier this year (Image: Getty)
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“I never thought for one season we were going to get someone who would become a game changer, a match winner regularly for his team and his composure and the quality of his finishing is — I don’t want to say (Lionel) Messi-like the way he passes it into the net, but it’s is that ilk in the way in which he finishes.”
Chelsea will be hoping that they can continue to progress and challenge for silverware over the coming seasons to ensure that Palmer does not have his head turned by the prospect of winning trophies elsewhere.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1956724/Chelsea-news-Gary-Neville-Cole-Palmer