Joe Cole believes Manchester City have the best player in the entire Premier League within their current squad.
Pep Guardiola is blessed with working with some exceptional players every day, and that increased over the summer with the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki arriving at Man City.
City needed to add to their ranks after an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, which saw many of their players underperform and lose confidence, although the current season has not started much better.
One of them stood out above the rest, and according to Joe Cole, the Manchester City star is the best in the Premier League when performing at his best.
Phil Foden in action for Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Joe Cole believes Phil Foden is the best player in the Premier League
Following a season in which Foden was crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, the midfielder underwhelmed last time around, with several reasons cited for his downturn in form.
The Man City star looked rejuvenated at the FIFA Club World Cup over the summer, with many stating that Foden looked happier in and around the Manchester club’s camp.
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It remains to be seen if the 25-year-old can replicate his 2023/24 form throughout the current campaign, and if he can, Cole believes the Englishman is the best player in the Premier League.
“I like Phil Foden in my team. You have to have players on the ball who can keep it and move it, and keep possession. And we’ve never leaned into that as a nation,” Cole said on talkSPORT when speaking about England and Foden.
“I think Cole Palmer and Jude are ahead of him at the moment. You may not have said that 18 months ago.
“He had a difficult season last year. We don’t know the problems he had off the pitch or injuries or what it was, but what you have to do is keep faith with these types of players.
“When Phil Foden plays to the best of his ability, like the season before last, he’s the best player in the country, you know, but there’s only one player who can produce that type of level of performance over the last 15 years consistently. That’s Lionel Messi. And there’s a reason he’s the greatest player in the world.”
How Phil Foden compares to Cole Palmer
The player Foden is fighting with for the number 10 role with England is his former teammate Cole Palmer, who left Man City due to Guardiola preferring the 25-year-old over the Chelsea star.
The Man City midfielder proved why during the 2023/24 campaign, as the Englishman reached new heights in helping the Manchester club win the Premier League that term, despite Palmer impressing during his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
However, Palmer has kicked on since and is ahead of Foden in the eyes of many when it comes to the England squad and as a player in general.
Player Games Goals Assists Minutes
Phil Foden 49 13 7 2993
Cole Palmer 52 18 14 4247
Phil Foden and Cole Palmer’s 24/25 stats
Both are very similar in the way they play, as they occupy the same spaces, both are very technical players, and they can create a moment of magic whenever their team needs it.
Foden has a lot of work to do over the coming months to overtake Palmer, but his main goal at present will be to return to form and book his seat on the plane to the World Cup next summer.