Former footballer and Liverpool legend, Michael Owen, has recently expressed his belief that England manager Gareth Southgate should prioritize Chelsea’s Cole Palmer over Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka for the upcoming European Championship.
With the prestigious tournament just around the corner, Southgate is under pressure to select his best squad. With only a few weeks of club football remaining, every player is vying for a spot on the team. One such player who has been making waves recently is Chelsea's rising star, Cole Palmer.
Palmer has been sensation at Stamford Bridge in his debut season
Cole Palmer has had an impressive run in recent weeks leading up to summer's Euros. His performance this season has been instrumental in Chelsea's success and he seems ready to take on international duties as well.
The 22-year-old Englishman joined Chelsea from Manchester City last summer as part of a £42.5m deal and quickly became one of Mauricio Pochettino’s top players this season. With an impressive tally of 24 goals and 13 assists across 42 matches for the London club, it's hard not to consider where Chelsea would be without him.
Michael Owen believes that such stellar performance cannot be overlooked when selecting England starting lineup at Euro 2024.
Form pushes case for Palmer says Owen
Owen strongly advocates for Palmer over Arsenal star Bukayo Saka despite both having commendable seasons so far. While acknowledging Saka’s contributions at Arsenal as they chase after Premier League title, he insists that it is time for Southgate to give priority to Palmer based on his recent form with Chelsea.
In discussing England ahead of this summer’s Euros, Owen stated unequivocally that "Palmer should be one of the first names on Southgate’s team sheet." He further emphasized that given his current form and contribution to Chelsea, Palmer deserves to start over Arsenal’s Saka.
Michael Owen, Liverpool legend, said:
“I would now start Cole Palmer over Bukayo Saka, I don’t think you can ignore Palmer’s form and quality any longer.
“I had him in my squad a few months ago but now he’s one of the best players in the Premier League. He might even get Player of the Year, possibly the Golden Boot, and that’s in a struggling team.
“So he’s now a must in my mind. I would play him on the right. I’d have Foden and him, one on the right and one central, then have Rice as a lone number 6, then Bellingham and Foden as 8s stroke 10s and Cole on the right.”
As the European Championship draws closer, the debate over who should make it into England's squad intensifies. While both Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer have proven their worth at their respective clubs, Michael Owen's endorsement of Palmer adds a new dimension to this discussion. It remains to be seen whether Southgate will heed Owen's advice or stick with his own strategy for the upcoming tournament.
