COLE PALMER is reportedly set to receive a bumper pay rise at Chelsea – less than one year since his arrival.
The 21-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in a £42.5 million transfer back in August.
He penned a seven-year contract that was worth around £75,000-a-week.
Palmer has flourished at Chelsea and helped them to reach the FA Cup semi finals with a strike in their 4-2 win over Leicester earlier.
His 14 goals and 12 assists have made him the stand-out player for the Blues this term and his displays have also caught the eye elsewhere.
England boss Gareth Southgate called him up this week for the upcoming friendlies with Brazil and Belgium after he won his first two caps in November.
Now the Daily Star says that the “Chelsea hierarchy are preparing to reward his sensational first season” over the coming weeks.
And they plan to hand him “a significantly improved contract and salary”.
This report states that the attacker’s salary will almost double.
He is due to “pocket nearer £150k-a-week next season”, according to this update.
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And that will move him nearer to some of his more senior, underperforming, team-mates.
While he will be hoping to fire Chelsea to FA Cup joy at Wembley, Palmer is also eyeing success at international level.
The ace will be desperate to be part of England’s Euro 2024 squad in Germany.
And this report claims that he will already have a new lucrative long-term contract on the table ready for him to sign should he board the plane out there.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling was booed by Chelsea fans after he missed the chance to double their lead against Leicester as his strike was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.
THe veteran appeared to take the ball off regular taker Palmer after being fouled for the spot-kick.
Speaking at half-time, former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink fumed: “Palmer is the penalty taker. I used to be a penalty taker. At 1-0 up I’m not giving it away.
“I think as a team, Gallagher as a captain has to go to Sterling and say no. Palmer’s scored all five. He needs to take it.”
