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How Cole Palmer Has Been Key to Chelsea’s Premier League Title Bid While City Face Struggles

The primary factor linking Chelsea’s rise in the title race to Manchester City’s difficulties is Cole Palmer.

Manchester City’s roster is aging and desperately in need of a top-tier young talent to reinvigorate their play.

Cole Palmer is Chelsea's star and exactly what former club Man City needs

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Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s star and exactly what former club Man City needsCredit: Alamy
Pep Guardiola at Etihad must deeply regret Palmer's exit

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Pep Guardiola at Etihad must deeply regret Palmer’s exitCredit: Getty
Palmer became frustrated at Man City after the arrival of Jeremy Doku

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Palmer became frustrated at Man City after the arrival of Jeremy DokuCredit: Getty

The player that City should have kept is Cole Palmer.

In contrast, Chelsea has shifted from a disorganized club to one that urgently required a leader to bring the team together.

And that leader is Cole Palmer.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to let Palmer leave for Chelsea appeared questionable even last season when City secured their fourth consecutive title while the young Mancunian shone in a struggling Chelsea team.

Now, as Palmer establishes himself as a vital player in a resurgent Chelsea team while City has faltered, winning only one of their last nine matches, this decision is proving costly.

It’s worth noting that the absence of Rodri due to injury has impacted City. However, their alarming decline cannot solely be blamed on the absence of the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder.

This week, executives at Etihad celebrated the tenth anniversary of their City Football Academy, which claims to have “produced 40 players for the men’s senior team and generated fees of up to £300 million.”

They also highlighted that “seven Premier League clubs and 12 Championship sides currently feature a player developed at the CFA.”

Palmer was pivotal in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win against Spurs

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Palmer was pivotal in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 win against Spurs

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This is commendable, but it becomes concerning when we realize that Palmer, alongside Phil Foden, is one of the few world-class talents developed at the CFA and is now thriving at a club positioned higher in the league than City.

For an initial fee of £40 million, which now seems like an astonishing bargain.

Such oversights happen in football, but they are typically attributed to Chelsea rather than Guardiola’s squads.

Examining Chelsea’s leading competitors reveals Kevin De Bruyne, sold by Chelsea at 22 and has since been a standout for City for multiple seasons.

You’ll also find Mo Salah, bought by Liverpool after Chelsea sold him at 23, who has long been their star player.

Additionally, Declan Rice, who was overlooked by Chelsea at 14, is now pivotal for Arsenal following a £105 million transfer.

During Jose Mourinho’s time at Chelsea, he didn’t underestimate De Bruyne or Salah but thought they weren’t ready for his first team, nor did he see them as future stars.

Similarly, City miscalculated on Palmer, who I believed deserved the Footballer of the Year award over City’s Foden, who won simply because it is perceived to be more prestigious to shine in a powerful team than to be outstanding in a mediocre one.

Guardiola regarded Palmer highly, keeping him close while other City talents were loaned out, ensuring he received first-team chances and fostering patience akin to Foden’s path.

However, by last summer, Palmer was 21 and ready to become a major talent in the Premier League.

Guardiola had promised him more game time, and expectations soared after Palmer dazzled with a stunning goal at Wembley in the Community Shield against Arsenal, as well as another in the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla.

Yet soon after, City chose to invest £55.5 million in