Jamie Carragher joins Gary Lineker in bold Cole Palmer Chelsea claim

Cole Palmer scored four goals in the first half against Brighton to take his Chelsea tally to 44 for the season, leading to Gary Lineker's bold claim that he could be England's best player

Jamie Carragher has agreed with Gary Lineker's praise, suggesting Cole Palmer might just be England's finest on the pitch.

After a dazzling start at Chelsea and netting a pivotal goal in Euro 2024's final, Palmer has escalated his play to extraordinary levels. Scoring an impressive four before halftime against Brighton, he's primed for a significant impact in the forthcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland.

Palmer's rapid rise at Chelsea has made a huge claim for a place in the national team. Gary Lineker praised Palmer's prowess on Match of the Day, even hinting that the 22 year old may well be the preeminent talent in England.

Lineker exclaimed: "Every time I see him, he takes my breath away. An extraordinary footballer. Of all the talented players England have got, he might be the best of the lot."

Phil Foden was Carragher's previous pick for the Premier League's most exceptional talent. The Sky Sports commentator has shifted his view, now opining that Palmer is overshadowing his erstwhile Manchester City peer, reports the Mirror.

On Sky Sports, Carragher confessed: "Last season I was a little bit reticent to say that he was the best player in the Premier League.

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"And I ended up going for Foden just above him and most people thought the same, as Foden got the two player of the year awards, but inside I felt he was the best player in the Premier League."

"And on the back of last season and this season, if he carries on this again through this season, I think he is the best player in the Premier League, I do. He is not playing with the absolute elite, sort of Manchester City, he has moved on from there."

Ahead of the upcoming international fixtures, Lee Carsley expressed his pleasure at seeing Palmer return to fitness: "I've known Cole for a number of years and seen how he's progressed," Carsley reflected on his time with Palmer in the youth ranks. "Every challenge put in front of him he takes in his stride, he doesn't get too high or too low, it's great to see him doing well."