In a stunningly frank assessment that will send shockwaves through Stamford Bridge, former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson has claimed that rising star Cole Palmer is the only current Chelsea player he would unequivocally keep at the club.
The Sky Sports pundit didn't mince his words when evaluating the West London outfit's expensively assembled squad, suggesting that a massive clear-out is needed to rectify the mistakes of the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era.
'Palmer is the Sole Untouchable'
Merson's praise for the 22-year-old midfielder was effusive. 'He's the only one I'd 100 per cent keep. He's been phenomenal,' Merson declared, highlighting Palmer's immediate impact since his £42.5 million move from Manchester City.
His comments underscore Palmer's meteoric rise to become Chelsea's most crucial and consistent performer in a season of intense scrutiny and underperformance.
A Scathing Squad Assessment
The critique didn't stop at praise for Palmer. Merson turned his fire on the rest of the squad, implying that nearly every other player has a question mark hanging over their future.
'After that, you're looking around thinking, well, I'm not sure about him, I'm not sure about him,' he stated, pointing to the sheer number of players and a lack of clear identity as fundamental problems plaguing manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The Root of the Problem: A Transfer Strategy in Disarray
Merson pinpointed the club's transfer policy as the core issue. He lambasted the strategy of signing 'too many young players for too much money,' creating a bloated and unbalanced squad lacking in proven, experienced leaders.
This approach, according to the pundit, has left Chelsea with a confusing mix of talent that has spectacularly failed to gel into a cohesive unit capable of challenging for top honours.
A Glimmer of Hope Despite the Gloom
Despite the brutal honesty, Merson did offer a sliver of optimism. He believes that with the right decisions in the upcoming transfer window—moving on a significant portion of the squad and recruiting wisely—Chelsea can still turn their fortunes around.
However, his analysis makes it abundantly clear that the project requires major surgery, not just a plaster, with Cole Palmer being the one shining jewel they simply cannot afford to lose.
