‘Staggering’: Some at Chelsea think they already have a 19-year-old who is as good as Cole Palmer

Add as preferred source on Google

Some at Chelsea think Omari Hutchinson is just as talented as Cole Palmer – who is close to arriving from Manchester City in a £45m deal.

That is according to Dean Jones – who was speaking on The Football Terrace.

So, what was said about Cole Palmer and Omari Hutchinson? Let’s take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, Chelsea signed the 19-year-old from Arsenal back in July 2022.

Since then, Hutchinson has only made two first-team appearances for Chelsea, and has now been loaned out to Ipswich Town for the 2023/24 campaign.

Despite his lack of chances at Stamford Bridge, some at Chelsea think the teenager is better than Palmer – according to Jones.

The respected journalist said: “It’s staggering. A player like Cole Palmer – as far as I’m concerned – for all the investment in their own academy, to not bring through their own version of Cole Palmer is not okay really.

“A Chelsea contact I was talking to was saying there’s a player within their academy called Omari Hutchinson, who has gone on loan to Ipswich, and he’s actually pretty similar to Cole Palmer. You wonder for these players, what are they thinking?”

While Hutchinson still has plenty of time to fulfil his potential at Chelsea, we can’t help but wonder if the Jamaica international would have received more opportunities under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

If the Redhill-born winger really is just as talented as Palmer, then it certainly isn’t the wisest use of £45m on Chelsea’s behalf.

Chelsea must learn from situation involving Cole Palmer and Omari Hutchinson

In our view, this approach from Chelsea is not sustainable and poses genuine long-term risks.

Hutchinson took a gamble in leaving Arsenal for Stamford Bridge, and his faith in Chelsea has not been rewarded yet.

He is not the first young prospect to join Chelsea and end up blocked from the first-team due to expensive imports from elsewhere, and if the Blues keep doing this, talented prodigies will surely start to ignore approaches soon.

Putting Palmer to one side for a second, Hutchinson saw more competition arrive for his role on the right wing when Noni Madueke was signed in January.

As Jones alludes to, these talents are surely becoming disillusioned, and something needs to change at Chelsea.