In the midst of a 12-game goal drought, questions began to rise over Cole Palmer’s potency. With a supersonic rise to prominence comes the inevitable doubt that such quality can be sustained.
The Manchester City youth product had set expectations high. His debut season at Chelsea single-handedly justified Todd Boehly’s strategy of heavy investment in high potential, registering 33 goal contributions in 34 Premier League games in 2023/24. And while his mid-term tally of 14 goals this year was by no means indicative of a one-season wonder, the barren run that followed led the naysayers to become emboldened.
