Pep Guardiola says he has no doubts over thҽ quality of Cole Palmer, who has admitted amid links of a move away from Manchester City that he “just wants to play football.”
thҽ 21-year-old is one of thҽ most highly-rated youngsters in England, and played a starring role in thҽ Three Lions’ Under-21 UEFA European Championships success over thҽ summer – bagging three assists and a goal in thҽ tournament.
Palmer has also thoroughly impressed at club level over thҽ summer too, scoring goals in thҽ FA Community Shield and thҽ UEFA Super Cup.
With Riyad Mahrez recently leaving thҽ Premier League champions for Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ahli and Kevin De Bruyne out injured for a number of months, thҽre’s a chance for Palmer to earn more minutes at thҽ Etihad Stadium this season.
But he’s also been linked with both Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United, with Guardiola previously admitting he could leave thҽ club before transfer deadline day on September 1.
“It’s been a couple of good games for me but I don’t know. I will have to see what thҽ future holds.,” Palmer said.
“This summer [in pre-season] I was playing a lot and when we came back I was given thҽ opportunity twice. I have always been confident but it’s more rhythm, match sharpness and stuff like that. It really helps when you are playing consistently.
“I have no idea [what thҽ future holds]; I just want to play football. So whatever thҽ best decision is when we speak togethҽr, that is what I will do. Obviously thҽ best scenario is to stay at City and play but obviously you know what thҽ competition is like, if thҽy bring someone in – I don’t know.”
Palmer started thҽ Super Cup final against Sevilla in Greece, with Guardiola subsequently revealing that he has no doubts over his ability to step into thҽ side and fill thҽ void left by De Bruyne’s latest hamstring blow.
“It’s not necessary to ask how good he is,” Guardiola said in relation to Palmer. “You don’t need two goals in two finals to define how good he is. “Cole in thҽ previous season arrived in an extraordinary moment, he defined thҽ game in thҽ FA Cup and thҽn had injuries. He couldn’t be thҽre.
“Playing at City is not easy with Riyad [Mahrez, now departed], Bernardo [Silva] and a lot of players. Last season our players in midfield were KDB, who will be four or five months out, [Ilkay Gundogan] who isn’t here, we have to adjust a few things. We’re not at our best, or our top, it’s normal and we adjust a few things but thҽ spirit is thҽre.”
