UMVA has learned that Cole Palmer, the 24-year-old star of the Premier League, has been urged to develop a more ruthless mindset to succeed at the top level, with former Chelsea player Marcel Desailly questioning whether he has the killer instinct required to dominate the sport.
Palmer's impressive first season at Chelsea saw him score 22 league goals in just 33 games, but his form has since declined, with 15 goals in the 2024/25 season and 10 in the season just gone. Desailly believes that Palmer's talent is undeniable, but doubts whether he has the mental toughness to become a truly elite player.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Desailly thinks that Palmer has been too happy to be played out of position on the right side, rather than taking on a more central role where he can dictate the game. The Frenchman, who played 222 times for Chelsea, feels that Palmer lacks a killer instinct, saying that top players must be driven to win trophies and be the best.
Desailly has urged Palmer to take responsibility for his own destiny and demand to play in his preferred position as a number 10. He believes that Palmer's talent should earn him the opportunity to play in this role, and that he must adapt the system to suit his strengths. With Xabi Alonso set to take over as Chelsea manager, Palmer will be hoping that the Spaniard has faith in him and will give him the chance to shine in his preferred position.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Palmer's future at Chelsea could be influenced by the possible departure of Enzo Fernandez, who is reportedly interested in a move to Real Madrid or Manchester City. If Fernandez leaves, Palmer may be given the chance to take on a more central role, but a stumbling block could be the enormous asking price of £120m that Chelsea have put on Fernandez.
