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News
- 48 minutes ago
Chelsea identify future No.10 as Palmer injury woes worsen
Cameron Smith
- 21 Nov 2025 18:52 GMT
- 4 min read
News
Chelsea reportedly plan to convert Estevao Willian into an attacking midfielder “in the next two years” despite the presence of star player Cole Palmer.
Estevao, 18, has enjoyed an eye-catching start to life at Stamford Bridge following his summer arrival from Palmeiras and he has already established himself as a firm fan favourite in west London.
Current ETV
Estêvão
F, M (R)
Chelsea
Estêvão
F, M (R)
Chelsea
ETV Range
€55.2M - €92.1M
The Brazil international has registered five goal contributions in 16 appearances for Chelsea so far this season, although Enzo Maresca has been keen to manage the teenager’s workload carefully as he adapts to life in the Premier League.
Estevao has featured mostly as a right winger since joining Chelsea in July, but it’s understood that a key reason why he opted to join the Blues is because the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge believe his future lies in a more central position.
This has been confirmed by The Telegraph’s Matt Law, who told the London is Blue podcast: “The view in the club is very much in the next two years he will move from being a right winger to a number 10. They’re not concerned about where that leaves them with Cole and how to fit it all in at all.
“They seem to have a plan that they’re not telling me about, but they really do properly inside the club believe this lad’s a number 10. They don’t for one minute think out on the right is his full-time position.”
If Estevao is converted into an attacking midfielder, it would free up space for Geovany Quenda to establish himself as Chelsea’s preferred right winger upon his arrival from Sporting CP next summer. It would, however, raise questions over where Palmer will fit in, despite Law's assurances that he will still play an extremely prominent role.
Cole Palmer injury update
Confirmation that Estevao is likely to be moved into a central position in the near future comes amid Palmer’s recent injury setback.
The England superstar has only made four appearances so far this campaign due a persistent groin injury and he has now been ruled out for an additional period of time after suffering an accidental foot injury while at home over the international break.
Maresca has confirmed that Palmer will be absent for Chelsea’s next three matches across all competitions, with the former Manchester City player set to miss crucial games against Burnley, Barcelona and Arsenal as a result.
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