Chelsea and Arsenal will be licking their lips at the prospect of having the future of England in their midfield with Cole Palmer and Declan Rice.
Both teams had very different seasons. Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title on the last day of the season and Chelsea secured sixth spot.
Whilst many didn’t expect Chelsea to finish above Arsenal before a ball was kicked at the start of the campaign, many still expected those from Stamford Bridge to perform better and perhaps make a return to the Champions League.
You just wonder where the club would have been had they been without Cole Palmer because he was out of this world – Even Cesc Fabregas expressed his ‘surprise’.
The 22-year-old, after winning the Treble at Manchester City last season, proceeded to score 22 league goals and supply 11 assists in his debut campaign at Chelsea.
It has been a remarkable start from the playmaker, who is hoping to be part of England’s squad as they prepare for Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.
One man who will be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad and XI will be Declan Rice. The 25-year-old made a club-record transfer to Arsenal last summer, yet he didn’t allow it to affect him.
Ian Wright thinks he has ’transformed’ Mikel Arteta’s side and was a key reason why they were able to push Manchester City right to the wire in the title race, as he told Premier League Productions (20/05/24 at 2:50 pm).
The legendary striker was asked to name his Player of the Season and who would make his top three.
The former Arsenal man shared his order and, whilst Palmer and Rice made the list, they were beaten to the prize by one Phil Foden.
Premier League Player of the Season
“Cole Palmer, I think he has been magnificent,” said Wright about who is third in his Player of the Season top three. “Whoever got him to Chelsea from Manchester City, because of what they have seen what they are capable of doing, it’s brilliant.
On who is second: “Declan Rice has transformed Arsenal. We are doing what we are doing because Declan Rice is a major cog in that.
On who tops his Player of the Season: “Phil Foden, he got Player of the Season and for the writers. With that form going to the Euros, he could easily be the player of the tournament. He’s amazing.”
Cole Palmer and Declan Rice at Euro 2024
During England’s most recent matches, Palmer was part of the squad, but he got a total of zero minutes against Brazil and Belgium.
That’s pretty ridiculous given his talents, and whilst people expect him to earn that golden ticket to Germany, many also want to see him start.
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Everyone knows Rice will start in the middle of the park, alongside Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
But will Palmer also get the nod? He can operate as a ten, or also out wide on the right, but that’s a position occupied by Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Then there is Foden to think about. He has to start also. Many want him in the middle, but he can also play on both flanks.
Either way, England are blessed with some unbelievable attacking quality and there must now be no excuses but to win Euro 2024.