Should Cole Palmer start for England at Euro 2024?
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer has been in sensational form in his debut season for the Blues. The West London outfit has spent several hundreds of millions in the last summer window and Palmer was a surprise last-minute signing. It will be a compelling argument to suggest anybody but Cole Palmer as the signing of the season.
Cole Palmer sealed a £40 million transfer from Manchester City on deadline day last September and has become an absolute sensation for the Blues.
How good has Cole Palmer been for Chelsea this season?
The 22-year-old English forward has become an undisputed starter for Chelsea and an indispensable part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. He has been one of the success stories in the Premier League this season and has recorded 26 goals and 13 assists for the Blues this season.
Palmer can play as an advanced eight, a No.10, or even as a false nine but he has predominantly started on the right for Chelsea drawing comparisons with ex-Man City Riyad Mahrez who had a similar output from the right wing.
Cole Palmer is currently second in the running for the Premier League Golden Boot with 21 goals, just four behind Erling Haaland’s 25. Many fans and pundits believe the 22-year-old would be one of the first names on the team sheet for Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Will Cole Palmer fit into England’s squad for Euro 2024?
The former Man City player was called up for the March international friendlies against Brazil and Belgium but a small injury prevented him from featuring in both games.
It is very unlikely Southgate would replace one of the best wingers in world football Bukayo Saka but the Arsenal star struggled with fitness due to the obscene number of games he has played over the past few years.
But Southgate has the incredible opportunity to rotate both Palmer and Saka to allow both of them to flourish for the Three Lions on the right flank. Man United and Liverpool legend Michael Owen believes Palmer should get the nod ahead of Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.
‘I would now start Cole Palmer over Bukayo Saka,’ Owen told Gambling Zone. ‘I don’t think you can ignore Palmer’s form and quality any longer.
‘But it’s almost unthinkable that you couldn’t have Foden and Palmer in your team, they are two of our best three or four players.
‘It is a challenge to fit them all in but in my team you do fit them all in, although Saka would miss out which is not easy to do. But he can still play a big part. If the final was tomorrow, I would put Palmer in the team.’
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