Real Madrid tipped to make £150m bid for Chelsea star as Enzo Maresca sent transfer warning

Only Erling Haaland managed to score more goals than Cole Palmer in the Premier League last season

Graeme Souness has backed Real Madrid to make a £150m bid for Cole Palmer. The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world since joining Chelsea from Manchester City on deadline day last year.

Palmer featured 33 times in his debut Premier League campaign for the Blues, netting 22 and setting up 11. The England international directly contributed towards more goals than any other player in the English top-flight, which earned him the Young Player of the Season award.

Despite already signing a seven-year contract upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge, he penned an extension in August, extending his stay until June 2033. Palmer has continued his excellent vein of form this term, scoring six and assisting five in seven games.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Souness claimed that Real Madrid could 'come knocking' and table an eye-watering bid for the maestro. The Liverpool legend said: "I’m sure there are other players Man City could have cashed in on.

"Chelsea paid £40m for Palmer but if Real Madrid come knocking next summer and he is still at the level he is showing, I would not be surprised if they got an offer of £150m for him. He’s a young man, so we’re going early on this call, but if this is Palmer’s level and he can be consistently this good, he’s going to be a top man.

"He has got silky skills, athleticism and a fabulous football brain. There’s simply nothing to dislike about him. He’s 22. At that age, no one ought to be that good. I like his temperament, too."

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Souness added: "You can read a lot into a player from their reaction when they score, and Palmer doesn’t go mad when he finds the net. He seems to have a really sensible head and he looks to have had a really good football education – which you would expect at the modern ­Manchester City."

Gary Neville has also recently lavished praise on Palmer, arguing whether he's the best player in the Premier League. Speaking on NBC Sports, the Manchester United legend said: "He’s not far off! I have to say that I was surprised last season.

"I remember when Mohamed Salah scored those goals all those years ago and I thought, 'He won’t repeat that in the second season, he won’t repeat that in the third season,' and Cole Palmer is just going and completely shocking me in terms of what he’s delivering.

"I can’t believe the level that he’s getting to and to think that he wasn’t playing for England in the European Championship in the summer now just seems absolutely ridiculous. And it seems even more ridiculous that Manchester City, who have been unbelievable in the transfer market, have let one of their own go."

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