Pat Nevin is confident that Chelsea’s first-team player is about to enjoy an excellent individual season in the Premier League.
The fact that people are discussing Chelsea as outside challengers for the Premier League title highlights how far they’ve come in the space of a year under Enzo Maresca’s management.
Of course, the Blues have several special individuals in their squad. Italian head coach Maresca deserves huge credit for bringing the young group together, though.
Gus Poyet tips Chelsea to be closer to the top in the upcoming league season and expects opposition teams to play differently against them.
Cole Palmer looks on during Chelsea FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Pat Nevin tips Cole Palmer for Premier League Player of the Year
According to Pat Nevin, Chelsea star Cole Palmer, 23, could be in for a big season at Stamford Bridge.
He’s tipped the attacking midfielder to be the Premier League’s best player in the 2025/26 campaign, expecting him to be a lot freer with the additional support at Stamford Bridge.
When asked to predict the Premier League Player of the Year, Nevin told the BBC Football Extra newsletter (13 August): “Cole Palmer. With quality new strikers ahead of him to find and Estevao already on his wavelength so he doesn’t have to bear the entire load, Cole will be freed. He also ended last season and has started this pre-season looking back to his best.”
The way that Palmer has performed in his first two years at Chelsea has been remarkable. With that, the expectation and pressure on him have grown exponentially.
Appearances Goals Assists Trophies
97 43 29 2
Cole Palmer’s overall record at Chelsea
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Palmer’s form dipped slightly in the second half of last season, perhaps because of the responsibility for him to always perform for Chelsea. Hopefully, he benefits from new arrivals such as Liam Delap and Estevao Willian sharing the load with him.
Darren Bent massively rates Palmer, describing him as the Premier League’s best attacking midfielder, so we would expect him to be in the conversation for Player of the Year.
Pat Nevin at the Premier League match between Everton and Southampton.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Pat Nevin predicts big things for Joao Pedro
Nevin, who played for Chelsea in the 1980s, also expects to see Blues forward Joao Pedro enjoy a fantastic season.
The 23-year-old Brazilian star has pressure on his shoulders after joining for £60m from Brighton this summer, but he’s looked a natural fit so far at his new club.
When asked to pick the Premier League signing of the season, Nevin told the BBC Football Extra newsletter (13 August): “Joao Pedro. He will get bundles of chances with the world class creativity around him at Chelsea and looks a natural scorer. He can lean on strike partner Liam Delap too.”
At the Club World Cup, Pedro slotted in effortlessly for Chelsea, scoring three goals in three matches to help win the trophy. He also netted two in two games during the recent pre-season friendlies.
Ally McCoist described Chelsea’s Pedro as a “bargain” because he expects him to be a fantastic signing.
The No.9 position has been a problem area for the Blues for so many years, so can Pedro be the man to lead the line? We would love to see him become the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to break the 20-goal mark in a season.