£45m Chelsea star 'wanted' by top Premier League clubs as Blues reveal transfer stance

As one of the richest clubs in world football, it is unusual for a Chelsea player to be linked with a move away from the club - it's usually the other way around! Today, however, Blues star Cole Palmer is thought to be in the sights of 'top-six Premier League clubs' ahead of the summer transfer window.

This is according to a report from Football Insider. As well as clubs in the Premier League, they also mention that teams in 'Europe' are monitoring Palmer's situation at the moment. Despite this, it does not disclose any of the supposedly interested parties in the equation.

Nevertheless, Chelsea are remaining calm in the wake of this recent development. Palmer is under contract with them until the summer of 2030, with an option to extend his stay by an extra year. Currently, Chelsea have 'no immediate concerns' that Palmer could leave the club - however, they may offer him a new deal just to ensure that he remains with them.

Can Chelsea afford to lose Cole Palmer?

Chelsea's squad is bloated at the moment - they certainly can afford to shed some of their less valuable talents in the upcoming summer transfer window. However, allowing Palmer to depart Stamford Bridge would be nothing short of a disaster.

The 21-year-old has been the Blues' most effective and consistent attacking player this season. As things stand, Palmer has scored 16 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions - he has also managed to notch up a total of 12 assists.

Moreover, he is also an adaptable player, being able to feature as a left winger, an attacking midfielder and as a central midfielder. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Palmer has generally been deployed as a left winger, which allows him to cut inside and drift centrally to confuse defences.