Cole Palmer better than Bukayo Saka but Tottenham star has been Premier League’s signing of the season
Cole Palmer has been told he has been better ‘all-round’ than Bukayo Saka this season but no one comes close to one Tottenham star.
That is the verdict from talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, who was in awe of Chelsea star Palmer after his hat-trick performance against Manchester United on Thursday night.
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Palmer made quite the statement as he took the match ball home on Thursday as Chelsea beat United 4-3Credit: GettyAnd speaking to Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive on Friday afternoon, the discussion took them to who is the best signing of the season with Palmer fancied over Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister, but behind Tottenham’s Micky Van de Ven.
However, Murphy did insist that the Chelsea wonderkid is better than Arsenal ace Saka, though admits the comparison might be unfair.
“It depends on whether you are looking at value for money, impact, I mean the biggest impact for me as a signing is Van de Ven,” said Murphy.
“He has had the biggest impact. He is the one player at Tottenham where you think, ‘Oh my god, you don’t want him injured’.
READ MORE ON CHELSEA”Everyone else they can cover. But I would have Cole Palmer second. [Alexis] Mac Allister maybe third.”
“Because you have walked into a huge club who are struggling as a young player, and all the other young players haven’t shone like him, and scored 16 goals and got eight assists.
“I love him, he has got years ahead of him being a superstar. He is Chelsea’s best player, already. Easily. No one close.
“As long as they progress and become more competitive over the next year or two, you see him staying there because he has now become the main man. He is only going to get better by playing every week.
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Murphy believes Palmer has been better than SakaCredit: Getty
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Palmer’s stats speak for themselves”He has got more goals than Saka. Saka is a wonderful player, I love him. He is a right-winger out and out. Palmer is playing there, even though he is a 10.
“But his all-round game you could argue is better [than Saka’s]. I am not saying he is a better right winger than Saka.
Jamie O’Hara and Jermaine Pennant compare Cole Palmer’s performances this season at Chelsea to that of Eden Hazard at the Blues and Gareth Bale at Tottenham Hotspur
“But his all-round football ability in terms of passing, linking, dropping in, because Saka doesn’t play that role so it is not really a fair comparison.”
Palmer has been in sensational form for Chelsea this season and only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than him in the Premier League.
In total, the 21-year-old has 21 goals in all competitions as well as 12 assists in 39 appearances (16 goals and eight assists in 25 Premier League games).
Saka, meanwhile, has scored 16 in all competitions for Arsenal and assisted 13 in 38 games (13 goals, eight assists in 28 Premier League games).
While Chelsea and Arsenal fans will debate over who is better, Murphy’s insistence that Van de Ven is the best signing of the summer might come as a shock but, considering Tottenham’s shocking defensive form last season, he might have a point.
Spurs conceded a whopping 63 goals last season – more than anyone else in the top 10 – while with Van de Ven in the side, they have let in 21 this campaign.
