Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City, Cole Palmer has become a vital player for the team. Upon his arrival, he wasn’t even in the top 100 players in the Goalden View Popularity Ranking (GVPR). However, despite facing a challenging environment with unstable management, the young Englishman was the shining light in an otherwise disappointing season for his club. He played a significant role in the club’s sixth-place finish, tallying twenty-two goals and eleven assists. By the end of the season, he made a remarkable leap into the GVPR top 60.
Amid speculation that he might be a one-season wonder, Palmer quickly silenced the critics. In just the second game of the season, he delivered a hat trick of assists against Wolves, and this past weekend he further showcased his skills, boosting his popularity to new heights. Palmer surged up 47 places and gained 8,320 points to break into the GVPR top 10 for the very first time. His current 6th place ranking reflects a dramatic increase in his recognition over the past months.
While Palmer’s rise in popularity is remarkable, it raises the question of how his career might have unfolded had he chosen to stay at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. With greater competition for positions as a winger and midfielder, the young academy player may have faced challenges in securing consistent game time compared to what he has experienced at Chelsea. Manchester City has however seen academy players progress to the senior team, most notably Phil Foden, who became the Premier League player of the season and is consistently in the GVPR top 10. Another City academy graduate is Rico Lewis, who has since become a rotation player in Guardiola’s side and now consistently hovers around the seventies mark in the GVPR. Aside from cases that are few and far between, the majority don’t make the cut and are sold to other teams with a question mark if they will ever succeed.
In hindsight, Pep might think he made a mistake with Palmer, but he has another possible gem on his hands: James McAtee, a young attacking midfielder who appears to have great potential who currently sits at 260th in the GVPR. If McAtee were to leave City, he may make a significant impact for a rival team. Will James McAtee follow in Palmer‘s footsteps or will he emulate Phil Foden? Only time will tell.