Cole Palmer continues to shine in a Chelsea shirt (Picture: Getty Images)
Cole Palmer may well be England’s best player, believes Gary Lineker, after the Chelsea superstar scored four goals in Saturday’s win over Brighton.
The 22-year-old continues to turn in remarkable performances for the Blues and find the back of the net on an incredibly regular basis.
Palmer has scored 31 goals in 53 Chelsea appearances since arriving from Manchester City last year, quickly becoming one of the most potent forwards in the country.
After he scored all four of Chelsea’s goals in the 4-2 victory over the Seagulls, Lineker made a big claim, feeling Palmer may now be the finest player England can call upon.
‘Every time I see him, he takes my breath away,’ Lineker said on Match of the Day. ‘An extraordinary footballer.
‘Of all the talented players England have got, he might be the best of the lot.’
Given Palmer is international teammates with the likes of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and many more brilliant players, it is some compliment from the former England striker.
Palmer has scored 28 goals in just 39 Premier League games for the Blues (Picture: Getty Images)
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is unsurprisingly delighted with his star player, saying he is the best in the Premier League when it comes to the combination of scoring goals and providing assists.
‘I just said to Cole, he scored four but he could have scored two or three more. It is important he continues to be hungry and ambitious,’ said Maresca after the Brighton win.
‘I know Cole from many years ago. 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.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea climbed to fifth with the win over Brighton (Picture: Getty Images)
‘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.
‘He is a top player. And the important thing about the previous thing, today in football, young players change very quick. They score one goal and they think they are already… Cole has scored many goals, many assists, he is a top player but he has never changed. This is the most important thing.’
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