'Mr Cool' Cole Palmer told he's already a Chelsea great by Champions League-winning manager - but England star is set ambitious target if he wants to 'validate' himself

England international Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City for £40 million ($50m) in the summer of 2023. A stunning debut campaign in west London delivered 25 goals and Young Player of the Year awards from the PFA and Premier League.

Palmer has a further 14 efforts to his name this term – with that haul including a historic four-goal first-half salvo against Brighton – and continues to enhance his blossoming reputation at 22 years of age. He has become a talismanic presence and a man that looks to lead by example with club and country.

Asked for his take on Palmer and whether his services can be retained on a long-term basis, former Chelsea midfielder and Champions League-winning manager Di Matteo – speaking in association with BetMGM – told GOAL: “Mr Cool! He’s a great player. He glides over the pitch. When you watch the team play and you watch him, you see that he’s such a talented player. He always finds the space. I think why don’t the opposition mark him, but then I’ve watched him very closely and he’s such an intelligent player. He always puts himself in a position where he can receive the ball in space.

“He is such a technician. He reads the game so well before he receives the ball, he already knows what’s happening. That’s a great gift to have. Technically he is obviously very good. He must be the best signing in the new era, under the new owners. He has had such a big impact on the team. He is a game changer as well, so he’s a very valuable player.

“I don’t see why not [staying put]. Chelsea are a big club and will again be challenging. This season they have shown that they can be challengers again. The next step will be finishing in the top four and build from there.”

Pressed on whether Palmer could follow in some illustrious footsteps and become a Chelsea great, Di Matteo – who worked with the likes of Gianfranco Zola and Frank Lampard as a player and coach – added: “I think in the hearts of fans he is already probably in that bracket. As a player, you need to achieve trophies. That’s what validates you as a player.

“If you go through your career and you don’t win anything, you might be a great player but I don’t think as an individual he would be happy with that. Once they start winning, and this year they have opportunities to put a trophy on the cabinet, that will validate him even more.”

Chelsea expect to compete for major honours in each passing campaign, but have ended the last two seasons empty handed. Quizzed on the timescale for success under the Todd Boehly-led ownership team, Di Matto said: “I think the narrative has changed a little bit since the takeover. There has been a lot of change within the club structure and the team as well. It’s just a question of time. It’s obvious that there is a lot of talent in the team, there are a lot of good players in the team. They just need to play games, a lot of games together.

“This season I think has been very good, it has shown that they have the quality and they just need to grow as a team, as players in the team. You can see that the players that arrived two years go, or even this year, they are starting to understand how the Premier League works, how hard it is. Every game is a battle and you cannot be off for any game, otherwise you don’t get many points.

“They have had a good run. I just hope they can keep consistency for the second part of the season. There was a little bit of a wobble over the Christmas period, but it’s a very big schedule. If you aren’t used to it, it’s very tough – I can tell you that as a player, to play Boxing Day, then the 28th and then the 30th, then the 2nd. You have got to experience that before you understand how to handle it.”

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League table through 22 fixtures this season, leaving them on course for Champions League qualification. They are also into the fourth round of the FA Cup and last 16 of the Europa Conference League.