Cole Palmer signs a new Chelsea contract until 2034, and Xabi Alonso answers Thomas Tuchel’s doubts

Cole Palmer, 24, has signed a new Chelsea contract running until 2034, on improved terms, according to the BBC. He was already tied to the club until 2033, a deal signed two years ago, after his 2023 move from Manchester City for £42.5m. This season the attacking midfielder has four goals and two assists in seven games, and nobody in the squad has played more minutes.

The timing matters, because Thomas Tuchel has doubts about him. The England manager left Palmer out of his World Cup squad this summer, had to do without him at the last gathering through an adductor problem, and believes the player passes up too many chances to wear the shirt, hinting that he wonders how much Palmer wants it.

Alonso answers Tuchel

On Friday Xabi Alonso took the subject on. “He’s committed but he needs to be fully fit to play. We need him – the club and the national team,” the Chelsea manager said to the Guardian. In his view the reason is clear: a pubalgia that has followed Palmer since last season and was felt again before the 3-0 defeat at Brentford. “Now he’s fine. He’s been feeling better this week.”

On England, Alonso offers a coach’s reading: “Things happen naturally. When you show for your club that you are a top-level player and you have regularity, normally it is the natural way that you are part of the national team.” Palmer has five caps since his goal against Spain in the Euro 2024 final; the answer comes next month, when England play Croatia and Spain. Asked about the “bottle job” label Piers Morgan threw at him, Alonso kept it short: “I don’t know the comment and I don’t know the guy.”

Back in time for Bournemouth

Palmer is expected to be available when Bournemouth visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Chelsea sit tenth on seven points, twelve goals conceded in five league games, without a league win in three. Alonso also hopes to have Reece James, Moisés Caicedo and Marco Palestra back. The market has not moved: 1.87 with Betano for a Chelsea win, against 1.79 at the open, with the draw at 4.10. Bournemouth, 17th on three points, know their way around this ground: their last two visits to Stamford Bridge both ended 2-2.

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