Chelsea could replicate Cole Palmer template by signing 21-year-old Norwegian starlet
According to Chelsea transfer expert Simon Phillips, Chelsea are monitoring the situation of talented playmaker Oscar Bobb at Manchester City ahead of a potential summer swoop.
The Blues raided Manchester City last summer for Cole Palmer and he turned out to be a revelation in the Premier League. With 22 goals and 11 assists in 34 Premier League appearances in his debut season in West London, Palmer was named the Young Player of the Season in the Premier League. His exploits didn’t go unnoticed as the forward was called up to the England squad for Euro 2024.
The 22-year-old’s stock was further enhanced during the tournament in Germany, as he came off the bench and provided the pivotal assist for Ollie Watkins in the semi-finals against Switzerland before he again made an impactful substitute appearance by scoring the equaliser for England against Spain in the final in Berlin.
Given the roaring success Palmer has enjoyed at Stamford Bridge and on the international stage, especially as an impact substitute in the recently concluded European Championships, Simon Phillips claims that Chelsea are planning to lure Oscar Bobb from Manchester City by guaranteeing him more regular game time.
The Blues could take advantage of the connections of their co-director of recruitment and talent chief Joe Shields, who used to work as a scout at Manchester City. Shields rates Bobb very highly and could play a big role in tempting him away to Chelsea, just like he did with Palmer.
Discussing Chelsea’s interest in Bobb in his Si Phillips Talks Chelsea substack, Phillips said: “SPTC sources have confirmed that Chelsea are now looking at Bobb as a potential option due to the fact he is in a similar position that Palmer was in last summer.”
“Chelsea believe they might have an opportunity to land Bobb if he doesn’t play as much as he wants to in pre-season and doesn’t feel he is going to get the chances at City.
“Bobb is very much a ‘Joe Shields target’ if you like, with The Blues director rating him highly.”
Bobb enjoyed his breakthrough at Man City side last season, making 26 appearances across all competitions and scoring a crucial stoppage-time winner against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Mostly all the appearances came from the bench, with the Norwegian talent clocking a total of only 819 minutes across 26 outings despite Palmer’s departure.
The 21-year-old penned a new contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2029, but with City signing Savinho from Girona earlier this transfer window, Bobb’s chances may come at a premium in the upcoming season. Should he not get many opportunities to shine during City’s upcoming pre-season tour, Chelsea must look to replicate the Palmer template and poach him away from the Etihad Stadium.
Going by Palmer’s rise at Chelsea and the presence of the club’s new head coach Enzo Maresca and co-director Joe Shields—two figures he’d be familiar with having worked at City—Bobb may get tempted to join the West London outfit and kickstart his career.
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