Where does new Chelsea signing Cole Palmer fit into the team?

Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has the potential to grow into a special talent under Mauricio Pochettino

On the flip side, the 21-year-old can slide right into midfield three, acting as the orchestrator, otherwise known as the No. 10 ahead of Enzo Fernandez, and Moisés Caicedo. Other options Pochettino could tinker with now that the City youngster is on board include a box midfield with Fernandez, Caicedo, and at some point Romeo Lavia. In that formation, the 6-foot attacker should slot in on the right side of the top of that box with a right winger or right wing-back alongside him.

He’ll compete with the likes of Conor Gallagher, Madueke, and Mykhailo Mudryk for consistent playing time. Like the Argentine manager said in his press conference, the newcomer is not going to be gifted a spot at his new home even though he may expect it. That is how it should be. Pochettino is not going to cut any corners. If the City academy product buys in, he could become what he always wanted to be at his boyhood club but in the English capital.

Considering the turnaround time, the youngster will most likely be making his debut in Chelsea blue against Bournemouth on September 17 on the south coast. Given that he knows more than a few west Londoners already, it should not take long for him to settle into his new home. That does not mean success will follow right away. Greatness takes time.

He fits the project in west London to a tee: young, versatile and gifted enough to contribute in the present while possessing the potential to be a cornerstone for the future. Will Cole Palmer succeed at Chelsea Football Club?