Overview

• Former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet told GOAL that Palmer would need to leave Chelsea and likely England to have a realistic shot at the Ballon d'Or.
• Poyet cited Jude Bellingham's move to Real Madrid as an example of how playing for a European heavyweight elevates Ballon d'Or prospects.
• Palmer finished eighth in the latest Ballon d'Or voting, which was won by Ousmane Dembele with Lamine Yamal as runner-up.
• The 23-year-old is currently sidelined by a recurring groin issue, having missed matches against Brighton and Benfica and set to miss Liverpool.
• Poyet described Palmer as Chelsea's talisman and criticized perceived voting biases, while reports note Palmer's man-of-the-match displays in last season's Conference League and Club World Cup finals.