Cole Palmer: Chelsea's rising star sent transfer message by former Blue Joe Cole after 'step down' from Man City

Palmer has been an unexpected bright spot in another taxing season at Stamford Bridge since joining the club, in what now looks a very shrewd £42.5 million ($52.5m) move from Manchester City on deadline day of the summer transfer window.

The 22-year-old - who arrived with limited first-team experience - has a remarkable 36 goal contributions in all competitions, including 20 Premier League strikes as he keeps pace with goal machine and former team-mate Erling Haaland at the top of the scoring charts. That form has earned him a senior England call-up, and he now seems to be a shoo-in for Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.

However, given the juxtaposition of his personal exploits and Chelsea's continued overall struggles, there will be growing questions over his future as the summer transfer window approaches.

Although they have a chance of making a late push for Europe, the Blues have struggled to escape the clutches of mid-table this season, but pundit and former Stamford Bridge favourite Cole has urged Palmer to stay the course and become the poster boy of the project - one he believes under-pressure manager Mauricio Pochettino is the right man to oversee.

Speaking to GOAL courtesy of TNT Sports, Cole said: "I think you’ve got to credit him [Palmer] for taking [the move to Chelsea from Man City]. Ultimately, we have to say it was a step down from where he was the treble-winners, of course. And he's been brilliant. He lit the place up. He's been extraordinary, and I think he could have played himself into the England team. I think he's got the mindset for it. I think he's got the quality. And I think if I was him, I'd want to be the face of the rebirth of Chelsea Football Club as a global team."

Asked by GOAL if he would stay at Chelsea this summer if he was in Palmer's shoes, Cole was crystal clear: "Yeah, 100%. Because it's not like Chelsea are not ever going to get back to the top - they will. Even if they make as many mistakes as they have been in the last three years, you're still going to get some wins and Chelsea will get [back] to the top. Cole Palmer is looking like a leader in the team as well. Just a proper player."

Asked whether Pochettino is the right manager for the job of guiding the club through its current transition, Cole responded: "I don’t know what the parameters are for success, for what the owners see as acceptable - that’s a conversation between the owners, board members and Pochettino - but I agree with Frank [Lampard] in that he needs time. It's a crazy game we live in, it really is.

"A football club is like driving a big cruise liner - it doesn't turn sharp, things don’t get better quickly or worse quickly. There's been massive mistakes made at Chelsea over the last three years that are nothing to do with Pochettino, and nothing to do with Frank, Graham Potter or Thomas Tuchel.

"But ultimately their heads are on the block - that's what we sign up for as managers. I’m just hoping behind the scenes there are some clear strategies in place and we know where we are with what’s accepted as a club."

Rather than get rid of the head coach, Cole agreed with the Argentine tactician's suggestion that Chelsea need more experienced players to complement their raft of young talent.

"Pochettino came to the club because Chelsea have the youngest squad of the [elite] teams in Europe," he continued. "For Chelsea behind the scenes that are going down a specific route of nurturing young players, trying to improve them, add value as assets while also bringing the team back to the top end of European football.

"Chelsea are caught between both [clubs buying to succeed and buying to sell] - there's demand from the fans to be at the top of the table, the owners have spent enough money to want to be at the top of the table. Young players need to be nurtured, you need senior players around.

"I'm not talking about the coaching staff - they've proven they're top drawer. They've been at PSG, they've overlooked that young Tottenham side so they know how to improve players, but there's nothing better as a football player, you learn your lessons in the firing line, with your team-mates, learning from good senior players."

Unfortunately for Pochettino, Chelsea's new star Palmer is a major doubt as the Blues prepare for Tuesday night's London derby against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The 22-year-old was absent from training on Monday due to illness, with his manager admitting he still might not be in a condition to play even if he has recovered in time.

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