Players to Watch in 2023/24 season: Man City's wonderkid Palmer

On the eve of the 2023-24 season around Europe, it's time to ask: Who are we excited about watching this season? 

We've got together 10 of the finest brains from across Europe that we think you should keep an eye on in the upcoming campaign. These aren't the best 10 players in Europe, nor are they 10 you've never heard of. There are lots of young players in this list and each writer was to pick someone they are excited about in 2023-24. 

We will select two most noteworthy player in 2023/24 season every day. Read on to see who we've selected today.

Cole Palmer Manchester City

The greatest testament to Cole Palmer’s ability is that Manchester City have no interest in letting him leave the club permanently. It’s still unclear where he’ll be playing next season, whether that be on loan at a Premier League club like Brighton or Burnley, a top club in the Bundesliga, or maybe in Manchester again. Wherever it is, he should finally be afforded the opportunity to showcase why City have treated him more as a Phil Foden than a Romeó Lavia. Even though they can afford to buy almost anyone, they see a future for him at the club.

Palmer is a versatile player who sits perfectly within the grey area of forward and midfielder, comfortable in a multitude of roles but most dangerous from the right. His first start in the Premier League came as a false-nine against Everton during the 2021-22 campaign, where he looked completely at home in a team full of stars, barely misplacing a pass despite playing with a creative outlook.

For the academy side he was used either as a right-sided midfielder or a winger in a 4-3-3; he scored 16 goals and provided 8 assists in his final 16 appearances in PL2 before becoming a full-time member of City’s senior squad, and it’s for that reason that it was surprising to see him used predominantly as a left-winger in 2022-23, a role that seemed to limit his strengths (cutting inside, shooting across goal from distance, playing reverse passes for wingers or full-backs) and highlight his weaknesses (one-footedness and a lack of athleticism).

Though despite playing in a role that didn’t suit him, he still led City for dribbles completed per 90 minutes last season, at a rate of 2.4. Palmer plays with natural confidence and is always willing to take on his full-back.

This summer he starred for England’s victorious under-21 side, providing one goal and three assists across the semi-final and final against Israel and Spain. But it was in England’s final group game against Germany that his technical ability and guile were most evident, with Lee Carsley opting to use him in a deeper midfield role alongside Oliver Skipp.

Palmer displayed a willingness to receive the ball from the central defenders while under pressure from Germany’s energetic midfielders, ultimately misplacing only three of his 47 passes, while injecting impetus into England’s possession with 22 ball carries, trailing only centre-back Charlie Cresswell (27).

With only 12 starts in senior football at the age of 21, Palmer has had to be patient. It’s time for that patience to be rewarded.