Cole Palmer Is The Premier League's Most Valuable Player For ...

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Cole Palmer of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal, his ... [+] fourth, from a penalty during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Nobody has scored more goals in the Premier PINC League this season than Cole Palmer. Indeed, the 21-year-old has found the back of the net 20 times, putting him level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top of the Golden Boot standings. Palmer’s four-goal haul against Everton on Monday highlighted just how important he is to Chelsea.

This season has been a challenging one for the Stamford Bridge club, but it would have been even more challenging had it not been for Palmer. Some are now making the case for the 21-year-old as the Player of the Year in the Premier League. He is without doubt the Most Valuable Player in the truest sense of the term.

Palmer has scored 33% of Chelsea’s total goals in the Premier League this season. This is the highest contribution of any individual player in the division. Only one other Chelsea player (Nicolas Jackson) has reached double figures for Premier League goals this term and he has half the tally of Palmer.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Former team-mates Erling Haaland of Manchester City and Cole Palmer ... [+] of Chelsea exchange words at the re-start after Palmer scores from the spot to make it 4-4 during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)

Haaland is a more natural goalscorer than Palmer, but Manchester City can still win without the Norwegian striker in the team. The same can’t be said for Chelsea. It is dependent on Palmer to give them both creativity (Palmer has also registered nine Premier League assists) and cutting edge in and around the penalty box.

“The impact on the team was amazing from day one,” said Mauricio Pochettino about Palmer after the win over Everton. “We always expect the best with everyone we sign, so it has not surprised us. He was always the player with the capacity to score goals, even in Manchester City. But the way he adapted himself and the way he is playing and performing is fantastic.”

Chelsea has been extremely wasteful in the transfer market since Todd Boehly’s takeover, but Palmer has proved himself as an exception. At the time of his arrival from Manchester City last summer, it wasn’t clear what Chelsea’s plan was for the young attacking midfielder, but he has been the best signing of the season in the Premier League.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 4: Chelsea Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino celebrates with Cole Palmer during ... [+] the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 4, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

The challenge now for Chelsea is to build a winning team around Palmer. Pochettino’s team is still slumped in ninth place in the Premier League table, a long way from where it wants to be. Pochettino himself is still being examined with many supporters unconvinced by the the former Tottenham Hotspur boss.

In Palmer, though, Chelsea has a generational talent. The 21-year-old will almost certainly be part of the England squad for Euro 2024 and is destined to be a star in the Premier League for a long time to come. No team is reliant on a single player as much as Chelsea is reliant on free-scoring Palmer.