Some of Chelsea’s transfer business has puzzled Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.
Chelsea have been very busy this summer, bringing in the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.
Pedro was at a six against Crystal Palace last Sunday, not putting in his best performance, but the forward has looked sharp overall since joining the Blues. He scored in both of Chelsea’s pre-season friendlies after netting in the Club World Cup final versus Paris Saint-Germain.
Even so, Merson has questioned the club’s decision not to sign another attacker from the Premier League, believing that he would have taken some of the load off Cole Palmer.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesPaul Merson baffled by Chelsea’s decision not to go after Eberechi Eze
Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze could be about to join Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
While they have been linked with him in the past, the Conference League holders are not challenging Spurs for his signature, a decision that has puzzled Merson.
“I cannot believe Chelsea aren’t going for Eberechi Eze,” the retired attacker said in his Sky Sports column. “I really don’t know what I am missing. They buy winger after winger, but they need guile. They need more than Palmer.
“If you get Eze, you then have two players who can break teams down. They are predictable for me. They play with two quick wingers with Palmer trying to feed them.”
The 27-year-old almost won all three points for Palace in their recent London derby with Chelsea. Eze scored a terrific free-kick against Enzo Maresca‘s side, but it was disallowed following VAR intervention.
While Palmer will not get to link up with Eze at club level this season, he could still become Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho’s teammate before the transfer window closes. Chelsea remain interested in both the RB Leipzig and Manchester United stars.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty ImagesCole Palmer and Eberechi Eze’s 2024/25 season stats
While Palmer’s form really tailed off in the second half of the 2024/25 Premier League season, the attacking midfielder can still be pleased with his overall campaign.
The same can also be said about Eze. The England international did not score as many goals as Palmer, but he did manage to register the same number of assists despite playing fewer minutes.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty ImagesPlayerGamesMinutesGoalsAssistsShots per gameKey passes per gameDribbles per gameCole Palmer373,1991583.42.41.4Eberechi Eze342,6048831.72Via Cole Palmer’s WhoScored and Eberechi Eze’s WhoScored pages
It will be interesting to see what level Eze reaches if he does join Tottenham or another top Premier League club this summer.