“He’s a better finisher than Cole Palmer” – Mikel Obi rates £52m Chelsea star a better finisher than Cole Palmer
Fans might be shocked to learn that John Mikel Obi did not mention Cole Palmer when he selected who he believes to be Chelsea’s finest finisher at the moment.
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea had a very up and down season the previous year, ending up sixth in the Premier League. However, they did score goals at a rather respectable clip. The Blues really scored 77 goals during their 38-game league season.
With 25 goals for Chelsea in all competitions last season, Cole Palmer was without a doubt the team’s hero in front of goal.
This Thursday, the 22-year-old attacker received a two-year contract extension as a reward. By the way, according to The Telegraph, Palmer’s increased pay puts him on par with Enzo Fernandez.
John Mikel Obi rates Christopher Nkunku as Chelsea’s elite finisher
According to talkSPORT pundit Mikel Obi, the best finisher in Chelsea’s current squad is Christopher Nkunku.
The 26-year-old attacker didn’t get to show fans his quality last year during his first taste of English football due to injury. He scored three goals in his 14 matches across all competitions.
When discussing Nkunku’s ability, Mikel Obi said: “Chelsea fans haven’t seen anything yet. He is super-sharp, he is the best finisher they have got, make no bones about that. He is the best finisher they have got.
“He can play there (as a number 9) because he is bright and he is sharp, and he can finish on both feet, and he can keep the ball. If he gets a run in the team and he is fit, Chelsea fans are going to be really pleased with him.”
Christopher Nkunku will score goals if he stays fit
Nkunku, who can play central or wide attacking positions, is definitely a huge goal threat at Chelsea. Let’s see if he can match Palmer’s numbers in the upcoming campaign, though.
Nkunku showed in Germany in the two seasons prior to his Chelsea move that he knows where the back of the net is. Here is a look at his record during his final two campaigns as an RB Leipzig star:
Nkunku’s scored three goals this summer in pre-season for Chelsea and looks like he’ll be key under Enzo Maresca.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football last year, Micah Richards described Nkunku as a “class” player.
Hopefully, the Frenchman gets some better luck with injuries and the opportunity to show the Premier League his quality in attack.