Paul Merson, a former Arsenal star and avid Chelsea supporter, has expressed strong criticism towards Chelsea and co-owner Todd Boehly after the club extended Cole Palmer’s contract until 2033, Soccernet.football reports.
Merson questions the wisdom of offering such a lengthy deal, especially given the unpredictable nature of football careers.
Palmer, who was a standout performer for Chelsea last season, had already been contracted until 2031.
However, the club decided to further extend his stay at Stamford Bridge following his remarkable debut campaign, where he netted 22 Premier League goals.
This impressive form earned him a spot in England’s Euro 2024 squad, where he scored an equaliser in the final, although England ultimately lost to Spain.
Chelsea’s move to secure Palmer’s future is seen as a strategy to ward off interest from other clubs.
However, Merson remains unconvinced, questioning the logic behind such long-term contracts.
“I don’t know what they are doing,” Merson remarked in an interview with Sky Sports.
“You’re talking about nine years’ time, how can you tell what he’s going to be in nine years’ time? He’s had an unbelievable season and is a good player but this season, every team that plays, the first thing in the team talk is stop Cole Palmer playing.”
Merson also highlighted the challenges Palmer will face in maintaining his current level of performance. With teams now fully aware of his abilities, the upcoming season could prove more difficult for the 22-year-old.
“If he gets 15 goals next season I will be saying fair play to him,” Merson added.
Palmer finished last season with an impressive goal every 119 minutes, second only to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the Premier League scoring charts.