Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has expressed his shock at Chelsea’s new two-year contract for Cole Palmer.
Chelsea announced on Tuesday that Palmer had penned a two-year extension as a reward for an outstanding 2023/24 campaign.
Palmer has scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 appearances following his £42.5million move from Manchester City last summer.
The 22-year-old was named the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year and Chelsea have moved to secure their star asset after impressing for England at Euro 2024.
But Merson opposed the new deal, saying Chelsea knew what they were doing.
“They don’t know what they’re doing! I’m not horrible but you’re talking about nine years! How do you know what he’ll be like in nine years?
“He’s had an unbelievable season and he’s a good player, but this season, every team they play, the first thing in the team talk will be ‘stop Cole Palmer playing’ – that’s the problem now, he’s got it all the time now. And now you give him a nine-year deal? Don’t get me wrong, I like him. But they give these players seven, eight, nine-year deals…”
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