The last 30 years have produced some mercurial English midfielders, and Chelsea star Cole Palmer, still only 23, is one of the latest on that long list of footballing talents.
Paul Gascoigne, Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard. England have been able to produce marauding midfielders for years, ones that score goals consistently, ones with plenty of flair.
While Cole Palmer might not be as physical as some of the names listed above, he’s more technical. There is a way to go, and in the short-term, overcoming this groin injury. But Palmer has massive potential.
Cole Palmer can become Chelsea’s Steven Gerrard – discuss 🔥
There have been comparisons!
That’s even having done what he has already achieved. Many forget that Palmer, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2023 from Man City, is still just 23. He’s five or six years below his peak, which is scary.
Steven Gerrard notices something he had in Cole Palmer
Jamie Carragher recently made comparisons between Palmer and Gerrard, and not for their footballing ability. He said: “The longer the game went on, the more you could see his frustration with his teammates.
“Do you know what it reminded me a little bit of? Stevie [Gerrard] used to get like that at Liverpool because he was so much better than everybody else,” Carragher said, likening the duo during 2024-25.
Cole Palmer of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
On Wednesday night, Gerrard was asked about comparisons between himself and Palmer and he agrees with Carragher. He says it is also something he’s noticed in Palmer, describing it as an “elite frustration”.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: “I’ve heard Carra making those comparisons, and you can see it in the way he looks around sometimes. He’s got that elite frustration when things aren’t clicking.
“But for me, you look at his output—he’s carrying the creative burden for a huge club at a very young age. It’s a lot of pressure, but he seems to have that inner belief that the top, top players have.”
How far can Palmer go? He’s already ahead of Didier Drogba…
There is no doubting Palmer’s quality. Even when he’s struggling to be 100% fit, he’s head and shoulders above the rest of his Chelsea teammates. He’s had a hand in nine goals in six games under Liam Rosenior.
Sam Allardyce recently claimed Palmer isn’t world-class, but that’s simply barbaric. This is a player who is right up there in terms of the current England side, and if fit, Thomas Tuchel simply has to start him.
Cole Palmer is the best signing of the Todd Boehly era, there’s no debate 🤩
Already, Palmer has scored more goals than Didier Drogba managed. Drogba is widely considered one of the best strikers ever to play for Chelsea and we’re talking about a midfielder that’s overtaken him.
If Palmer can see off this groin injury, an injury Alan Shearer described as “horrible”, then he can truly become one of the best players to ever play – not just for Chelsea – but in the Premier League.
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