Keith Wyness: Chelsea have a player now worth way more than Jack Grealish
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted Chelsea star Cole Palmer is now worth at least £100million following his rapid rise over the past year.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – suggested Manchester City are probably regretting the fact they sold the England international last summer.
Chelsea signed Palmer in a £42.5million deal after he previously saw his opportunities limited with Man City despite coming through the ranks at the Etihad.
The 22-year-old registered 25 goals and 15 assists in all competitions even though the west Londoners enduring a challenging campaign.
That form earned the winger a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championships, where he scored in England’s 2-1 final defeat against Spain.
Chelsea now have a bona fide superstar in Cole Palmer
Wyness believes Palmer now has to be classed as a £100million player after inspiring Chelsea’s late run for Europe last season and having an impact for England this summer.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “There is no doubt he played very well at the European Championships.
“He had few moments as we saw. Southgate didn’t have him starting, but Palmer scored a great goal in the final.
“If you are looking at Grealish, who didn’t make it and was a £100million player, then I think Palmer is certainly a £100million player. I think there is no question.
“He showed enough last season to get into the tournament. On his season’s work alone, that would make him a £100million player and probably even more.
“City are probably regretting the fact he’s gone because he’s developed well. But these things happen with players, sometimes they click and sometimes they don’t.
“Palmer seems to be very grounded as well. I tend to look at the personality of the player. He’s been very quiet, you don’t see him in the media or out in Ibiza.
“I think he’s an asset that will be looked at and Chelsea will do well to hang onto him. They need to because he was also the bright spark of Chelsea’s season last year.
“He was probably responsible for that end-of-season run that they went on that gave them some credibility and took a lot of pressure off.
“Todd Boehly should be thanking him a lot for what he’s done and making sure he stays.”
In other news, winger could leave Chelsea as talks open over deal.
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