Palmer makes feelings clear on Chelsea latest transfer talks as 'review' planned

Chelsea may have found a solution to their ongoing goalkeeper dilemma ahead of the summer transfer window, with Cole Palmer describing one rumoured target as a future "world-class" player

Cole Palmer has already heaped praise on Chelsea transfer target James Trafford by calling him a "world-class" talent. The Blues have faced instability in the goalkeeper position for a number of years.

This season has seen Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen fight it out for Enzo Maresca’s No. 1 spot. Neither goalkeeper has been convincing, however, with both showing frailties despite Sanchez being signed from Brighton for £25million in August 2023 and Filip Jorgensen being brought in from Villarreal in a £20.7m deal only last summer.

Chelsea have three other shot-stoppers on their books – Djordje Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mike Penders – who have all impressed out on loan this season.

The west London club’s hierarchy are believed to be planning a review of their goalkeeping situation at the end of the season ahead of the summer transfer window.

But The Sun now reports that Chelsea have already considered Burnley’s Trafford as a viable option after the 22-year-old helped his side clinch promotion to the Premier League.

The report claims Trafford is expected to leave Turf Moor after his key role in Burnley’s Championship title pursuit, with one game left to play.

It states Chelsea have enquired about the Englishman in the hope that they can come to an agreement with the Clarets, with Newcastle United also believed to be after his signature, having missed out a year ago.

The highly-rated goalkeeper has played 44 games in the Championship, keeping 29 clean sheets while astonishingly only conceding 15 goals. And he has already been given the nod of approval by none other than Chelsea talisman Palmer.

Palmer knows Trafford well from their time together in the Manchester City academy. They have also won silverware together, having both featured in the England U21s side that won the European Championship in July 2023.

Palmer spoke glowingly about Trafford after his last-gasp penalty save to win the tournament: “Wow. He’s so good. You could see it in the academy. Even in training, he’s so hard to score past.

“I’m just glad everyone else is seeing it… he just goes about his business on his own. I always say to him – even when we were little – that he is going to be world-class.”

And now they could join forces again if Chelsea manage to outbid Newcastle for the £30m-rated goalkeeper, whose contract expires in the summer of 2027.