sport news Inside the mind of the Premier League's top scorer COLE PALMER, who continues ... trends now

Cole Palmer is the under-spoken, yet lethal, sharpshooter taking the Premier League by storm – and is now on everyone's lips as he leads the scoring charts alongside a certain Erling Haaland in his debut season at Chelsea.

Now he's thinking a few steps ahead, which seems to be something that has always been second nature to the 21-year-old both on and off the pitch.

As he takes his seat on the sofa in one of the rooms in the cottage near the entrance to Chelsea’s Surrey training ground during our interview back in January, Palmer checks first to see if this is an interview being recorded on camera, information that would allow him to adjust his approach if he felt necessary.

When his pictures are being taken at the end by our Mail Sport photographer, Palmer shows an interest not often seen by players, querying whether one has to be taken so closely, reviewing and giving others his approval, mindful of the final product (his favourite is the third picture on this story).

He is equally aware of what is coming next when the topic of his £42.5million move from Manchester City to Chelsea is discussed. As Palmer’s season has unfolded and the goals have flowed and he’s developed into Chelsea’s talisman and an England international, the question has been asked with increasing regularity: Did Pep Guardiola blunder by allowing Palmer, an academy product who joined the club as an Under 8, to leave City?

Guardiola does not get many calls of this kind wrong, is the common refrain. But it was definitely an eyebrow-raiser of a decision. So was he surprised to be let go? ‘Yeah,’ Palmer admits after a brief pause for thought as he weighs up his answer and the implications.

‘Initially I didn’t want to leave,’ he explains. ‘I said I would go on loan and play for a year so I was ready for first team football more because I didn’t play a lot of minutes [last season]. But then Pep said “you’re either staying or you’re getting sold” and, so yeah, I just got sold.

‘I was a bit confused why they wouldn’t let me go on loan but [then] I said I wanted to go to Chelsea and I’m glad it’s turned out the way it has.’

Some other developments have also surprised Palmer, 21, during this standout campaign so far.

Like the instant impact he has made at Chelsea, hearing Sir Elton John offer an opinion on his transfer and breaking into the England squad as soon as he has. But when you are one of the league’s most exciting young players certain things come so naturally they are just all in a day’s work. Such as moments of genius that result in Goal of the Month contenders.

Back in January, Palmer scored his, a wonderful solo effort at Luton but with its roots on the parks and five-a-side pitches in Manchester like Wythenshawe’s Hollyhedge Park, 20 seconds away from his childhood home and where he first began kicking a ball about.

The composure, speed of thought and execution Palmer showed to roll and bounce the ball with his studs over the legs of the outrushing goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski before leaving Luton defenders strewn in their penalty area as he calmly scored wowed watchers.

But Palmer recounts the goal in the matter-of-fact way only a gifted footballer can. ‘When I got played through I thought the ball was too heavy,’ he begins. ‘I thought I was too close to the keeper to kick it round him so I just thought I’m doing the ball roll and I did it. It’s just instinct.

‘Did I mean the first touch? Yeah! If I just did a ball roll [along the ground] he [the keeper] would have got it. It’s like me trying to go past you now. If I just did it on the floor it’s going to hit your foot so if I chip if over your leg you can’t do anything. I’ve done it before, sometimes, but not as fast and chaotic as that at Luton.

‘I don’t know [how you would teach someone that]. It’s just a roll. I can’t really remember. I don’t even really think about it. I think you have to learn it from young. The way you play and stuff. Parks and five-a-side pitches.’

Palmer’s effort had shades of Mesut Ozil’s Champions League winner for Arsenal against Ludogorets or the unique, goal-making first touch had hallmarks of Dennis Bergkamp, who pundit Paul Merson likened Palmer to earlier in the season.

His manager Mauricio Pochettino sees elements of Angel Di Maria in Palmer. ‘It’s high praise, those players who are mentioned,’ Palmer says. ‘Obviously world class players. Hopefully I can get to near their level and it will be a good career.’

A boyhood Manchester United fan, his idol growing up was Wayne Rooney and the former England captain will no doubt appreciate Palmer’s desire to take responsibility and inspire despite his tender age. 

Palmer was Chelsea’s last summer signing but quickly became one of their first picks, significantly helping increase the threat of Pochettino’s team wherever he pops up. He might start in one position but roams around the pitch looking to find other areas from where he can influence a game.

‘I just like to always have the ball, try and make things happen,’ he says. ‘When the team is struggling a bit I just liked people to turn to me to try and do something. That pushes me and the manager says “be free, express your abilities. Do what you do.” From young, I feel like I’ve scored important goals, even throughout the academies. I’ve always liked that.’

At Chelsea, Palmer has been given a platform and is thriving in a role that was not available to him at City. ‘Everyone quite clearly can see the two clubs are in different

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