Cole Palmer better than Bukayo Saka but Tottenham star has been Premier League’s signing of the season

Cole Palmer has been told he is better than Bukayo Saka this season, but no one comes close to a Tottenham star.

That’s the verdict of talkSPORT pundit Danny Murphy, who was impressed with Chelsea star Palmer after his hat-trick against Manchester United on Thursday night.

And speaking to Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive on Friday afternoon, the discussion took them to who is the best signing of the season with Palmer preferred to Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister, but behind Tottenham’s Micky Van de Ven.

However, Murphy insisted the Chelsea wonderkid is better than Arsenal ace Saka, while admitting the comparison could be unfair.

“It depends if you’re looking for value for money, impact. I mean, the biggest impact for me as a signing is Van de Ven,” Murphy said.

“He’s had the biggest impact. He’s the only player at Tottenham where you’re like, ‘Oh my God, you don’t want him to get injured.’

“Anyone else they can cover. But I’d have Cole Palmer second. (Alexis) Mac Allister maybe third.”

“Because you came into a huge club that is struggling as a young player, and not every other young player has shone like him, scored 16 goals and had eight assists.

“I love him, he has years ahead of him to become a superstar. He is already Chelsea’s best player. Easily. Nobody comes close.

“As long as they progress and become more competitive over the next couple of years, you see him staying there because he’s now become the main man. He’s only going to get better as he plays every week.

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“He has more goals than Saka. Saka is a wonderful player, I love him. He is an absolute right winger. Palmer plays there, even though he has a 10.

“But you could say his overall game is better (than Saka’s). I’m not saying he’s a better right winger than Saka.

“But his overall footballing ability in terms of passing, connecting, passing, because Saka doesn’t play that role, so it’s not really a fair comparison.”

Palmer has been in sensational form for Chelsea this season and only Erling Haaland has scored more goals than him in the Premier League.

In total, the 21-year-old has 21 goals in all competitions as well as 12 assists in 39 appearances (16 goals and eight assists in 25 Premier League matches).

Saka, meanwhile, has scored 16 goals in all competitions for Arsenal and provided 13 assists in 38 games (13 goals, eight assists in 28 Premier League games).

While Chelsea and Arsenal fans will debate who is better, Murphy’s insistence that Van de Ven is the best signing of the summer might come as a shock, but, given the form Tottenham’s shocking defense last season, he might be right.

Spurs conceded 63 goals last season – more than anyone in the top 10 – while with Van de Ven in the team they have conceded 21 this campaign.