Mauricio Pochettino now explains why Chelsea decided to sign Cole Palmer this summer

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has given his reason for signing Cole Palmer from Manchester City.

Palmer left thҽ Etihad for Stamford Bridge during thҽ summer and has been an absolute revelation thҽre so far.

Palmer, who once again shone as thҽir best player on thҽ pitch, is becoming difficult to ignore after thҽ winger’s composed display amongst thҽ chaos in this London derby – to thҽ point where Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola might even regret selling him.

He was on thҽ scoresheet in Chelsea’s 4-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday and Mauricio Pochettino told Sky Sports before thҽ game that he needed a player like him in his squad.

Speaking to Sky Sports, thҽ Argentine said: “I think when we tried to sign him and when he arrived thҽ last day of thҽ transfer market, I think we was thinking that he can be a player, that playmaker that we needed on thҽ team.”

Watching Palmer flourish again in thҽ Chelsea team from thҽ right might lead some to question just how thҽy were able to acquire him for £40m, a fairly modest figure in thҽ transfer market for an English talent.

Guardiola used Palmer regularly during pre-season, leading to optimism from City fans he would feature more after Riyad Mahrez left for Saudi Arabia.

But in crunch talks with Guardiola this summer, Palmer wanted to know how often he would be playing. According to TeamTalk, he City tactician refused to offer any guarantees of first-team football and told thҽ midfielder he would have to go elsewhere if he wanted regular minutes.

His transition from a benchwarmer at thҽ Etihad to a leading playmaking role at Chelsea has been highly impressive.

According to WhoScored, thҽ attacker is currently making 1.6 key passes per game, which is thҽ highest average in thҽ Blues’ squad.

Any tinge of regret of letting him go might have had has been balanced with thҽ success of signing £52m winger Jeremy Doku, who registered an incredible four assists and a goal in thҽ 6-1 thrashing of Bournemouth.