Cole Palmer has already made Chelsea transfer target prediction amid Enzo Maresca summer plans

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has already spoken highly of one of new Blues manager Enzo Maresca's transfer targets ahead of the summer window opening later this week.

The Italian officially starts his role at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of July but will no doubt be communicating with his staff and those already at the club in order to help shape his squad to his vision. The Blues have already signed Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a free deal after his contract expired at Craven Cottage and is set to fill the role of Thiago Silva who left Chelsea at the end of his own contract earlier this month.

With the club not needing to sell players before the end of the month in order to keep in line with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSRs), it's clear that the priority may be to first get the arrivals in before then looking to cut away those deemed unnecessary.

Michael Olise has long been thought to be the priority target through the summer but another name that has been floated around and said to be on the Blues' radar is that of Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford. The England international previously played alongside Palmer and Romeo Lavia under Maresca when the trio starred for Manchester City's academy side in their Premier League 2-winning season back in 2020/21.

Palmer and Trafford were also both part of the Three Lions’ Under-21s squad that won the European Championship last summer, with Palmer and Trafford playing massive roles in winning the final, with the Blues star scoring the winning goal but the game would've been a lot different had it not been for a dramatic finish.

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With Spain being handed a last-minute penalty that meant they could send it to extra-time, Trafford stepped up to save the spot-kick as well as the follow-up effort to ensure that England won the Euros, much to the delight of Palmer and his teammates.

It was a nervy end to the final for supporters and the rest of the squad, but Palmer had no worries about what was about to happen. In fact, he was videoed backing Trafford to save Spain’s penalty immediately before it was taken, and was quick to remind everyone how good he is after his prediction came true.

"I bet you he [Trafford] saves this," he said on the touchline before the penalty was taken in a TikTok posted by the official England account. After the save, Palmer said: "Do you know how good this guy is?! Do you know how good he is?!"

He then added: "Mad, you know. When Traff[ord] saved that – my heart. I don’t have words anymore. So many people I’ve told how good he is."