Cole Palmer ‘secretly trying to convince’ England teammate to quit his current club and join Chelsea
Cole Palmer, an emerging talent in English football, is reportedly working behind the scenes to recruit one of his England teammates to join him at Chelsea this summer. Although Palmer didn’t start for England during Euro 2024, he played a crucial role in Gareth Southgate’s squad, which impressively reached the final for the second consecutive tournament.
At just 22 years old, Palmer made a significant impact in the quarter-finals by coming off the bench and contributing to England’s victory over Switzerland. During the intense penalty shootout, Palmer confidently scored the first penalty, setting the stage for England’s win. His influence continued in the semi-finals against the Netherlands, where, once again as a late substitute, he provided a critical pass that allowed Ollie Watkins to score the decisive goal in the 91st minute, securing England’s place in the final.
In the highly anticipated final against Spain, both Palmer and Watkins were introduced as substitutes to change the game’s dynamics. Palmer demonstrated his skill and composure by scoring a remarkable goal that brought England level. This on-field chemistry between Palmer and Watkins has reportedly translated into off-field camaraderie. According to Football Insider, Palmer is now actively trying to persuade Watkins to leave Aston Villa and join him at Chelsea.
Sources indicate that Palmer has engaged in discussions with Watkins, proposing that they could form a formidable attacking partnership at Chelsea under manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea, eager to strengthen their attacking options this summer, has identified Watkins as a prime target. The 28-year-old striker had an outstanding season with Aston Villa, scoring 19 goals in the Premier League and playing a crucial role in Villa’s qualification for the Champions League.
To facilitate this potential transfer, Chelsea is reportedly willing to offer Conor Gallagher to Aston Villa. Gallagher has long been a target for Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, and his inclusion in the deal could smooth negotiations between the two clubs.
This pursuit of new talent aligns with Chelsea’s broader strategy to strengthen their squad. Since the club’s acquisition by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022, Chelsea has invested over £1 billion in new signings. This summer, they have already made significant acquisitions, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Omari Kellyman, Renato Veiga, and Marc Guiu.
As the transfer window progresses, the football world is keenly watching to see if Palmer’s efforts to bring Watkins to Chelsea will be successful. What is clear, however, is that Chelsea is determined to bolster their squad ahead of the new season, reflecting their ambitious vision under new ownership. The addition of Watkins could be a significant step in this ongoing transformation, potentially providing Chelsea with the firepower needed to compete at the highest levels domestically and in Europe.
