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Cole Palmer is making up for Chelsea's Kevin De Bruyne blunder as Brighton boss gives simple verdict

Cole Palmer
-Credit: (Image: Robin Jones)


When Chelsea splashed £40million on Cole Palmer in September of last year, there were a few raised eyebrows.

A talent indeed but an unproven one. If Manchester City are happy to get rid of him, there must be something wrong with him. Surely.

That is what a lot of people were thinking when Palmer penned a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge. Man City would not let an unbelievable talent leave the club for what was a fairly modest price when all things are considered.

Let's take a trip down memory lane, back to 2014, when Chelsea themselves allowed a young player to leave the club. A certain Kevin De Bruyne; a transfer that is often referred to as a huge mistake from the Blues' point of view by those looking in from the outside.

They had their reasons. As did Man City with Palmer. But the fact Chelsea were allowed what felt like a free run at signing the now England international is really quite remarkable.

Palmer scored four goals on Saturday afternoon as Chelsea won their fourth straight match in all competitions. There were just 20 minutes between the 22-year-old's opening goal and his fourth strike of the game.

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It means Palmer has now scored 31 goals in 53 games since moving to Chelsea over 12 months ago. In the process, he has also produced 19 assists for his teammates, making it a remarkable 50 direct goal contributions; averaging a goal or an assist every 82 minutes.

The key to it all? Staying humble and not changing his personality despite his enormous rise over the last year.

"I know Cole from many years ago," Enzo Maresca explained post-match. "I had him for one entire season at City and then the first-team.

"The best thing he has is the way he is today as a boy, he was exactly that way two or three years ago. So, goals and assists, the best player in the Premier League; this does not change the way he is.

"He is a simple guy, a humble guy - and for me, this is the most important thing."

A remarkable display. A one-off? Nope. Palmer struck four back in April in a 6-0 thumping of Everton. Just 11 days before that, he bagged his first hat-trick for the club, including two stoppage time goals to help beat Manchester United 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.

Jaw-dropping is perhaps the best word to describe Palmer. When he plays like that, there are few in world football more entertaining and more impactful. Your jaw does genuinely drop.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler can count himself unlucky. The Seagulls were not bad on the afternoon - despite a few questionable pieces of defending. They, however, came up against an absolute monster, a machine, a deadly weapon in Palmer. One that would not be stopped - and from Hurzeler's point of view, could not be stopped.

"Cole Palmer is special," the 31-year-old coach explained. "He is unstoppable. There are not so many players like him."

Hurzeler hit the nail on the head. There is no doubting Brighton were the victims of their own mistakes at times but it felt like one of those days where Palmer would do what he did, regardless of who the opposition were.

A truly special performance. One where you count yourself lucky that you got to watch it live. We are in the presence, and this is no exaggeration of a future great of the game.