The Morgan Rogers Chelsea signing is reportedly going to cost the club £117 million, which is a record amount for any English player to date. Chelsea have managed to hijack the transfer from Arsenal, and now there will be some changes in the way they line up next season.
The Morgan Rogers Chelsea transfer means that he is likely to play as the No.10 for the Royal Blues from next season onwards. That means that Cole Palmer, arguably Chelsea’s most talented player, will have to prepare himself to play in a new position.
Morgan Rogers Chelsea Signing Could Make Cole Palmer Play as Right-Winger
The Morgan Rogers Chelsea move should put Palmer on the right flank. Pedro Neto should play on the left, with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in a double pivot behind Rogers. If Fernandez leaves, then Chelsea could go for someone like Manu Kone of AS Roma as well.
In the last two seasons, Palmer has spent the majority of the time playing as the No.10 in Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1. Palmer has 56 goals and 32 assists in the last three seasons for Chelsea, though in the 2023/24 season, he primarily played as a right-winger.
However, playing on the right flank restricts a player’s movement as compared to playing as the No. 10. Hence, this might be a test for Palmer.
Another problem with the above set-up is that Neto is more comfortable playing as an inverted right-winger because of his stronger left foot. He played on the right wing only for Portugal in the recently concluded World Cup.
The Morgan Rogers Chelsea transfer should put the Portuguese winger on the left flank, which might not be ideal for him.
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If Palmer Plays as the No.10, Rogers Will Have To Move to the Left
Should Xabi Alonso, the new Chelsea manager, decide to stick with Palmer as the No. 10, then Rogers will have to move to the left flank. Rogers has played for Aston Villa on the left side of the pitch and can do so for Chelsea as well.
In the above arrangement, Neto can play on his preferred right flank, and Palmer can continue playing as the playmaker. However, it has to be remembered in this context that Enzo Fernandez played as the No.10 a few times last season despite Palmer being in the playing XI.
Another option will be to go with the talented Estevao on the right, Palmer in the middle and Rogers on the left, but that would leave no room for Neto in the playing XI.
Palmer played on the right flank to accommodate Enzo Fernandez as the No.10. Hence, with an expensive signing like Rogers, there is no reason why Alonso cannot follow the above example and play the 24-year-old Palmer on the right.
Palmer had a breakthrough season in 2023/24, but has not been able to make the same impact in the last two seasons for the club. Subsequently, he was dropped from England’s World Cup squad by Thomas Tuchel. One should remember in this context that Rogers made it to the English squad that finished third in the tournament and also played in a few matches at the World Cup.
Palmer is arguably more skilful than Rogers with the ball, but the latter can be more explosive. Hence, the decision will be for Alonso to make as regards the playing positions of Palmer and Rogers in the playing XI.
It can be said without much doubt that the Morgan Rogers Chelsea signing will put Palmer in front of a new challenge.
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