Cole Palmer has been a revelation at Chelsea since his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023, often being the go-to star in the final third in recent seasons.
The Englishman has caught the eye with his goalscoring exploits, notching 39 goals in his 75 appearances for the Blues, by far and away the most of any player since his move.
However, despite his impressive displays, the 22-year-old has also provided the goods for his teammates, registering 21 assists – taking his tally of goal contributions to 60 – an average of 0.8 goals or assists per 90.
Despite his excellent form, he’s failed to register any contributions in any of his last seven outings, in what has been a rare dry spell for the England international.
Palmer will be hoping he can resurrect his recent slump, looking to recapture his goalscoring form and potentially put one player’s record in West London under threat.
Frank Lampard’s stats for Chelsea as a player
After joining Chelsea back in the summer of 2001 for £11m, very few supporters would’ve anticipated the impact of midfielder Frank Lampard would have during his 13 years at the club.
The now 46-year-old racked up 648 appearances for the Blues, managing to find the back of the net on 211 occasions – making him their club-record goalscorer in their history.
Such a feat is staggering for a midfielder, with his long-standing impact in the first team showcasing why he made so many appearances during his time as a Blue.
He would also become a key member of the England setup, going on to make 106 appearances under various managers, somehow not winning anything during the golden generation in the early 2000s.
Nearly 11 years after his departure, current boss Enzo Maresca could be about to unearth the club’s next version of the fan-favourite, having the opportunity to bring him into the fold next season.
The player who could be Chelsea’s next Lampard
Owner Todd Boehly has invested massively since his takeover in May 2022, splashing big money on players to make an immediate impact – as seen with Palmer’s form since his own transfer.
However, he’s also dropped a serious amount of money on young talent for the future, setting up the side for the chance to win Premier League titles down the line.
One addition the American made came in the form of Kendry Paez, with the 17-year-old costing £17.2m back in October 2023 – still currently spending time on loan at Ecuadorian outfit Independiente.
He’s unable to join the Blues until he turns 18, linking up with Maresca’s men in May and likely to have a place in the squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The big-money fee spent for his signature, coupled with the “world-class” label given to him by talent scout Jacek Kulig, will undoubtedly put huge pressure on him to succeed, but given his record in his homeland, he has all the tools to be a success.
Despite his tender age, Paez has registered 13 goals in the last two seasons for Independiente, even making the jump and becoming a full international, given his record in South America.
He’s also provided numerous assists, registering six in his first two years as a professional – potentially linking up with Palmer to help the former Manchester City star recapture his confidence in the final third.
Games played
4
Goals
1
Pass accuracy
75%
Dribble success
63%
Tackles won
9
Duels won
22
His teenage years could restrict him from becoming a key member of Maresca’s side next season, but away from West London showcases, he has all the tools to thrive if given the opportunity.
Paez’s goalscoring exploits could see the Ecuadorian challenge Lampard for his record, having his whole career ahead of him at the Bridge, handing the supporters a reason to be excited about his pending partnership with Palmer.
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