New Chelsea newcomer exceeds expectations as “the player we had hoped Havertz would become”

Chelsea’s summer transfer business was head-scratching for some, but selling Kai Havertz and buying Cole Palmer is looking inspired according to Jason Cundy.

The Blues’ spending since Todd Boehly took charge of the club last May passed the €1 billion (£870 million) mark this summer as 12 new players were brought to the club.

Significant money was made back, however, with Havertz fetching the most when he joined Arsenal for £65m in June. Little more than two months later and £40m was spent on his replacement in Palmer.

READ: Chelsea finally get one over on Man City with inspired Palmer deal

Still 11th in the Premier League, the Blues have turned a corner of late, winning their last three games in all competitions. Palmer has had a hand in three goals in that time, and Cundy is impressed.

“Completely!” he said when asked on talkSPORT if Palmer was an upgrade on Havertz. “When you look at what Cole Palmer is bringing, he’s turning into the player we hoped Havertz would be.

Palmer ‘a class act’

“He’s playing in a slightly different position, but he’s the player we hoped Havertz would turn into. At the moment he looks a class act.”

READ: Zola lists Chelsea’s four transfer mistakes after €462m summer spend

Palmer, like Havertz, is tall for an attacking midfielder at 6’2″ and is also left-footed, like the German.

While Palmer now has a goal or an assist every 105 minutes he has played for Chelsea, Havertz was given something of a sympathy penalty as Arsenal beat Bournemouth 4-0 last Saturday, having previously failed to score in nine competitive outings.

Former Manchester City man Palmer is valued at €24.8m (£21.5m) by FootballTransfers’ in-house algorithm, suggesting Chelsea paid over the odds for the England U21 international, but his recent trajectory suggests that will look an increasingly better deal in time.

Havertz is valued at €68.6m, having had a highest xTV of €80m around the time he scored the winner for Chelsea against City in the 2021 Champions League final.