Cole Palmer may already have outgrown Chelsea, and his future at the club could be in jeopardy, according to football pundits Jamie Carragher and Paul Scholes. Both believe Palmer may come to regret his decision to sign a nine-year contract extension with the Blues, as they argue that he has little emotional attachment to the club and could be tempted to leave for a more competitive environment.

Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City for £45million in the summer of 2023, Palmer has been one of the few bright spots in the club’s massive transfer spend of over £1billion. Quickly establishing himself as a talisman, Palmer has impressed with his performances, earning accolades like Young Player of the Season from both the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association. Additionally, he was named England’s Men’s Player of the Year and received Chelsea’s Player of the Year award after netting 25 goals in 45 appearances.

However, the 2024-25 season has been more difficult for Palmer. He has gone 10 matches without scoring, and his frustration is beginning to show. Carragher, a fan of the player, noted that during a recent match between Chelsea and Brighton, Palmer’s frustration with his team-mates became evident as the game went on, which Carragher likened to the experiences of Steven Gerrard during his time at Liverpool. Despite being far superior to his team-mates, Gerrard remained loyal to Liverpool, but Palmer, unlike Gerrard, doesn’t have the same local ties to Chelsea and could be more inclined to seek a move away.

Scholes also believes that Palmer’s current situation at Chelsea may not be the most beneficial for his development. “It’s almost been too easy for him to play in that Chelsea team,” Scholes said on The Overlap. “He knows he’ll play every week and be the best player. I think he needs challenging more, and I don’t get the impression that they [Chelsea] are desperate to win anything.”

Carragher echoed those concerns, suggesting that Palmer’s talent could be wasted at a club that doesn’t seem to be aiming for major trophies. With Chelsea failing to make a significant push for the Premier League or Champions League in recent years, Palmer could become frustrated with the lack of challenge. He also pointed to the long-term commitment Palmer made with his nine-year deal, which ties him to Chelsea until 2033. Carragher raised concerns about whether such a long contract could eventually become a burden for the young forward.

The discussion around Palmer’s future has drawn attention to the issue of long-term contracts, especially at a club like Chelsea, where player turnover has been high in recent years. While Palmer may have secured financial stability with his contract, Carragher questioned whether being tied down for so long was in the player’s best interest, especially given his ambition to play for a team that consistently competes at the highest level.

“If you’re Cole Palmer, who’s got six or seven years left on his deal, and he should be playing for a team looking to win the Champions League, how does he get out?” Carragher asked. The suggestion that Palmer could soon seek a move away from Stamford Bridge seems plausible, particularly if Chelsea continues to struggle in their quest for major silverware.

With his potential still high and his career on the rise, Palmer may soon find himself considering whether Chelsea remains the right place to fulfill his ambitions or if a move to a more competitive club could offer him the challenges he needs to elevate his game to the next level.