0.5%-owned Cole Palmer a bargain option Dream Team bosses should monitor closely

MORE than a few eyebrows were raised when Chelsea forked out £42.5million for Cole Palmer at the end of the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old had played fewer than 500 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City prior to the big-money move.

Clearly a talented youngster, there can be little doubt he remains unproven in the top flight.

However, since Palmer became a starter for the Blues, the club’s fortunes have reversed for the better.

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Dream TeamChelsea are winning games with Palmer as a starter[/caption]

Maurico Pochettino oversaw a frustrating start to the season, during which time his side squandered far too much chances, ultimately costing them precious points.

But three consecutive victories prior to the international break have given the Argentine tactician a reason to be hopeful for the months ahead.

It’s too simplistic to say Palmer’s appearance in the starting line-up has been the sole factor in Chelsea’s recent turnaround but the England Under-21 star has made certainly contributed.

His first start came in the Carabao Cup when he provided the assist for Nicolas Jackson’s (£2.6m) winner against Brighton.

The right winger kept his place for Chelsea’s league win over West London rivals Fulham and again for his side’s most-recent victory at Burnley, where he scored his first goal for his new club.

Palmer bagged 11 points at Turf MoorReuters

What was particularly interesting about Palmer’s debut goal from a Dream Team perspective is that it came from the penalty spot.

Generally, an inexperienced new arrival would be well down the pecking order for such a duty but Palmer justified the faith shown in him by converting from 12 yards.

Pochettino’s side won 4-1 at Turf Moor but the score was 1-1 at the time the spot-kick was awarded so there was a considerable degree of pressure – hardly a freebie to simply get him up and running.

It remains to be seen whether Palmer will continue as Chelsea’s first-choice penalty taker but he can’t have done much more to keep hold of the title for now.

It goes without saying that Dream Team managers should be aware of the regular penalty-takers knocking around – cheap goals count just the same as 30-yard wonderstrikes.

Palmer’s broader returns since he became a starter have been impressive – he’s banked 24 points across the three outings.

And his points have come at excellent value given he’s currently available for just £2.1m.

GettyNew beginnings[/caption]

Whether the 0.5%-owned midfielder would be a wise recruit ahead of Gameweek 9 is another conversation entirely.

Eight teams are set to pull double duty this coming Gameweek but Chelsea are not among that crop and their lone fixture (Arsenal at home) has to be considered one of the more difficult match-ups.

In fact, the Blues will also play Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle before the end of November – it’s possibly not the best time to back Stamford Bridge residents generally.

That being stated, Palmer is somebody to monitor closely.

If he’s still Chelsea’s starting right winger and first-choice penalty-taker by mid-December when their fixtures turn then he could be a very smart, value-for-money differential option.

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