"They don't know what they're doing" – Paul Merson hits out at Chelsea as he identifies Cole Palmer concern after new 9-year contract

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has hit out at Chelsea for offering a new deal to Cole Palmer, predicting the player will fail to replicate his form.

Earlier this Tuesday, Palmer penned a two-year contract extension at his club on the back of his breakout season last time around. The ex-Manchester City attacking midfielder now has a deal until June 2033.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson hailed Palmer for his debut campaign at Chelsea before sharing a worrying prediction. He opined (h/t Metro):

"He's had an unbelievable season and he is a good player but this season every [opposition] team talk is going to be 'Stop Cole Palmer playing'. He's got that now the whole time. And now you're giving him a nine-year contract? I'm not sure [he will score 15 goals]. Last season he was unreal. This season he is marked."

Sharing further thoughts on the left-footed player, Merson continued:

"We've seen it a million times, like with [Emmanuel] Adebayor. He ripped it up at Arsenal [in the 2007-08 season], got a new contract and was marked. It's going to be hard. If he gets 15 goals next season, I'll be like, 'Wow, fair play to you'. 15 is a lot of goals."

Slamming Chelsea's ownership for handing out long deals, he added:

"It can't be a better deal for the club. They don't know what they're doing. I'm not being horrible but how can you tell what [Palmer] is going [to be like] in nine years' time. I like him but they're giving these players six, seven, eight year contracts. Some of them don't even play, don't even get in the team."

Palmer, 22, found the back of the net 25 times and recorded 15 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for the Blues last campaign.

VfB Stuttgart in talks to sign Chelsea striker

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart are currently in talks with Chelsea striker Armando Broja. They are keen to sign a third striker on loan this summer, as they could part ways with striking pair Mohamed Sankoh and Luca Pfeiffer soon.

Broja, whose Blues contract will expire in June 2028, spent the second half of last campaign on loan at Fulham. He endured a difficult time at the Premier League club, as he failed to score a goal in eight matches.

Overall, the 22-year-old Albanian has bagged just three goals and laid out one assist in 38 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea.