He needs to link up with Delap - Ex-Chelsea star explains Cole Palmer's problem

Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has leapt to the defence of Cole Palmer, vehemently rejecting claims that the England international's form "trailed off" in the latter half of the recently concluded season.

Wright-Phillips also expressed his belief that Palmer will "blossom again" alongside new Chelsea signing, striker Liam Delap.

Palmer, who had an exceptional first half of the 2024-2025 season, saw his Premier League goal tally dip significantly from mid-January onwards, registering only one goal during that period.

However, Wright-Phillips dismisses this as a decline, emphasised Palmer's continued creative output.

"I think it’s mad to say that Cole Palmer trailed off last season. I just don’t see it," Wright-Phillips told Prime Casino.

He continued, "I think people say it because he wasn’t scoring, but he was still creating the same amount of chances as when he was finding the back of the net himself. I don’t think he tailed off, I think it’s natural that players’ form will ebb and flow. You have those patches where everything goes in, just like there are spells where nothing will go in."

Palmer's overall Premier League stats for the 2024-2025 season saw him bag 15 goals and 8 assists in 37 appearances, demonstrating his important contribution despite the perceived dip in goalscoring form.

He also played a major role in Chelsea's Conference League final victory over Real Betis, where he provided two assists.

Wright-Phillips highlighted Palmer's all-around offensive threat, stating, "Don’t forget, he can do all the work just as he always did in terms of assists, but even then he’s reliant on his strikers putting the ball in the back of the net. I think he’s still dangerous, because he can damage you in the final third, and in his own third he has that passing range to set up a goal from deep. The way he’s playing, he’s always a threat."

The former England international anticipates a formidable partnership between Palmer and new signing Liam Delap, who recently joined Chelsea from Ipswich Town in a £30 million deal. Delap, a 22-year-old striker, signed a six-year contract with the Blues.

"I think Cole Palmer’s reputation is going to blossom again when he’s linking up with Liam Delap," Wright-Phillips predicted.

He added, "I think Liam’s going to be putting away more chances than Nicolas Jackson. Liam’s going to improve the team overall. He can hold the ball up, he’s like a wall up front, able to bring others into play. Not only does he take chances, but he creates them for himself, and he can do everything Jackson can do, with runs in behind. Cole’s going to love that, he knows that when he sends the ball into the box, Liam will be there."

Nicolas Jackson, who joined Chelsea in 2023, recorded 10 goals and 5 assists in 30 Premier League appearances during the 2024-2025 season, but has faced criticism for his finishing at times, and was recently sent off in a Club World Cup match.

Chelsea are set to conclude their Club World Cup group stage campaign against ES Tunis on Wednesday, in a match where Delap and Palmer will be aiming to fire the Blues to victory and secure their progression to the knockout stages.

Shaun Wright-Phillips played for Manchester City from 1999-2005 and 2008-2011, and for Chelsea from 2005-2008.