Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel believes Xabi Alonso is the best person to get Cole Palmer firing at his best again at Stamford Bridge.
After an electric first season in West London, Palmer has endured a tough couple of seasons that have also been marred by injury.
His drop in form saw him surprisingly miss out on Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad. Reece James will be the only Chelsea player in that side.
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John Obi Mikel predicts big things for Cole Palmer under Xabi Alonso at Chelsea
The Global Players Union has determined Palmer did not get sufficient rest before the 2025/26 campaign got underway, and a summer off could actually be the best thing for his long-term prospects.
He will be able to get to work straight away when Alonso takes over at the club on July 1, and be one of those who has a full understanding of the new manager’s style of play.
Mikel believes Alonso will be the perfect candidate to get the best out of Palmer, if he continues to help him believe he is the main man at Stamford Bridge.
He said to TNT Sports: “Listen, we all love Cole. I think Cole is fantastic, he’s a great player. I think a lot of people now are calling him ‘one season wonder’, but I think Cole is more than that.
“He’s got a lot of qualities. A lot of abilities, and I just think what has happened in the club for the last two seasons, you can see that he’s lost a bit of interest. I see that when he plays.
“I think now he’s got a manager that can put his arm around him and gets the best out of him. I think that’s what he needs. He’s our top player, our main man, and we should treat him that way.
“If we can get him to start playing well again, I think the team will start playing well, so let’s build the team around Cole.”
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Alonso says no to any Cole Palmer exit
With no Champions League football on offer, a number of the top players at Chelsea are assessing their future.
The Blues are aware of Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella’s desire to move to Spain this summer, and won’t stand in their way if the right offer comes in.
Alonso has a group of untouchables though, and this includes Palmer, as well as Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill and club captain James.
There is optimism that a summer off can help Palmer regain confidence in his own body, allowing Chelsea to see the best out of him again.
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