Pat Nevin believes young Chelsea star Cole Palmer has the potential to become the 'new Kevin De Bruyne'.
Palmer joined Chelsea in the summer from Manchester City on a seven-year deal worth an initial £40m with a potential £2.5m in add-ons.
When the transfer was first confirmed, it was one which raised eyebrows with Palmer leaving City who had just become the first English club to complete the Treble. However, he has been one of the shining lights in what has been a mixed season for Chelsea.
In his 25 appearances for Chelsea so far in all competitions, Palmer has scored 12 goals and has registered eight assists, and this led to Nevin claiming that the young star is the best signing since the club was taken over by Todd Boehly.
“Cole Palmer could be the new Kevin De Bruyne. I've said that before and took a lot of stick for it. I even said it on national radio when he was still at Manchester City. I don't make hyperbolic statements and I don't exaggerate, so it was a big statement," Nevin told Lucky Block.
"If you watch Palmer, you can see it now. He picks the right ball and he's the one who creates everything. He's the one who makes Chelsea special.
"Palmer is the best Chelsea signing of the Boehly era. I don't even have to wait a millisecond to answer that question.
“I'm not sure how the other signings will develop or how well they'll perform in the future, but Chelsea lacked a creative vision. It was so obvious.
“Cole Palmer just fell into their lap. People may dismiss him as a lucky signing, but Chelsea had to go for him when he was available. I knew he was their best player before he'd even kicked a ball for them.
“I'd seen a bit of him and covered a lot of City games he played in, though. I played in a similar position to him as a creative forward playing behind the striker, and I always look at what these players can do.
“Manchester City and Barcelona players all have the vision - not many players have that, but Palmer is one of them. To this day, I thank Manchester City for selling him to Chelsea. I was surprised he left, but I suppose Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva aren't bad.
“Palmer is Chelsea’s main man."
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