Cole Palmer ‘is better’ than Bukayo Saka right now, claims Danny Murphy, but the Chelsea forward is only the SECOND best signing of the season behind one Tottenham star

Danny Murphy has claimed that Cole Palmer is currently operating at a higher all-round level than Bukayo Saka – but the Chelsea star is not quite the best signing of the season. 

Palmer netted his 14th, 15th and 16th goals of the season on Thursday in the Blues’ dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in one of the games of the season so far. 

The England international netted from the spot in the first half, before a late double in the 100th and 101st minutes to turn it from 3-2 to 4-3 in favour of the hosts and steal a memorable three points. 

Palmer’s stratospheric rise this term has been well-documented, and he is firmly in contention to be on the plane to Germany this summer for the European Championship. 

Yet Murphy told talkSPORT that the 21-year-old is playing at a better level than his potential rival for the right wing spot for Gareth Southgate‘s side, in the shape of Arsenal‘s Saka. 

Danny Murphy believes that Cole Palmer is currently playing at a higher level than Bukayo Saka

Palmer scored his 14th, 15th and 16th goals of the Premier League season on Thursday night

Saka has been Southgate’s go-to man at right wing after his dazzling performances for Arsenal

‘I love him, he has got years ahead of him being a superstar,’ the former midfielder said. ‘He is Chelsea’s best player, already. Easily. No one close.

‘As long as they progress and become more competitive over the next year or two, you see him staying there because he has now become the main man. He is only going to get better by playing every week.

‘He has got more goals than Saka. Saka is a wonderful player, I love him. He is a right-winger out and out. Palmer is playing there, even though he is a 10.

‘But his all-round game you could argue is better [than Saka’s]. I am not saying he is a better right winger than Saka.

‘But his all-round football ability in terms of passing, linking, dropping in, because Saka doesn’t play that role so it is not really a fair comparison.’ 

He already has 16 goals and eight assists in his first season in west London, and has emerged as the key man for Mauricio Pochettino’s side despite his youth. 

Palmer was of course one of a number of Chelsea signings to arrive over the summer, but at £42.5million he has thus far produced an impressive return on the investment made on him – especially so given how few of those new faces have gone on to thrive. 

Yet for Murphy, he is still not the signing of the season. Declan Rice and Alexis Mac Allister have also been floated by many in that field, yet Murphy’s pick was perhaps surprising for some.  

Murphy claimed that Micky Van de Ven has had the biggest impact of any summer signing

The Dutch international has flourished in defence for Tottenham since his arrival for £43million

‘It depends on whether you are looking at value for money, impact, I mean the biggest impact for me as a signing is [Micky] Van de Ven,’ said Murphy.

‘He has had the biggest impact. He is the one player at Tottenham where you think, “Oh my god, you don’t want him injured”.

‘Everyone else they can cover. But I would have Cole Palmer second. [Alexis] Mac Allister maybe third.’

‘Because you have walked into a huge club who are struggling as a young player, and all the other young players haven’t shone like him, and scored 16 goals and got eight assists.’