Cole Palmer linked with stunning transfer to Chelsea's rivals that would shock Premier League if it actually happened

Jamie Carragher has questioned why Cole Palmer is not being more strongly linked with a move to one of Chelsea's biggest Premier League rivals this summer.

After establishing himself as one of the best players in the Premier League during his first season for Chelsea in 2023/24, Palmer has failed to reach those same heights this term and has struggled in the second half of the campaign.

It's now been nearly four months since the Englishman scored his most recent goal against Bournemouth on 14 January.

Palmer's dip in form has led to some people speculating that Chelsea may not be the perfect club for him.

With just four games left of the current Premier League season, Chelsea remain struck in a fierce battle for a spot in the top five, therefore earning qualification for the Champions League next season.

As it stands, the London side have 60 points, narrowly keeping them inside the top five due to goal difference, but with difficult fixtures against Liverpool, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest to come, they run a real risk of missing out on the elite European competition.

And if they are to miss out on reaching the Champions League, Liverpool legend Carragher has suggested that several of Chelsea's rivals could make an attempt to lure Palmer away from Stamford Bridge.

Writing in The Telegraph, Carragher claimed: "Palmer has played only 183 minutes of Champions League football in his career. That is worryingly low for a player of his calibre on the eve of his 23rd birthday.

"He knows that he is too good to be watching rather than playing in the Champions League. Chelsea must start satisfying his ambitions to take on Europe’s best, otherwise he will start asking himself how and when they will.

"Then it will only be a matter of time before rival clubs try to sign him."

Cole Palmer has disappointed in recent matches for Chelsea. (Image: Getty)

If Palmer is available in the summer, then some reports have claimed that either Liverpool or Manchester City will be his most likely destination, with journalist Simon Phillips confirming that the two sides were 'sniffing around' Palmer.

Phillips wrote in his Substack: "Meanwhile, and I’m not saying we do sell him by the way, both Manchester City and Liverpool have been sniffing around Cole Palmer for the summer, with City making an enquiry recently."

And it appears Carragher agrees that Liverpool should consider making a move for Palmer as the Reds have made it clear that they intend to be highly active in the upcoming summer window.

He added: "It has been suggested that Liverpool, who play at Stamford Bridge this weekend, should build for the title defence by breaking the bank for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

"It surprises me that no one has argued that Palmer should be on the new champions’ radar.

"Far-fetched? Too expensive? Most likely. Liverpool “going big” for footballers who are already established on mammoth and long contracts elsewhere is not their strategy, so if you read headlines saying 'Jamie Carragher says Liverpool should buy Palmer' you are not reading this correctly.

"But predators will be circling and keeping tabs on what is going on at Stamford Bridge."