‘I already know him from the Under-21s at City, I had him for a full season.

‘Then he left and came back and joined Pep.’

Chelsea have been busy in the transfer market already this summer, completing deals for South American wonderkids Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez, who will join up with the club in 2025.

Brazilian forward Estevao and Ecuadorian midfielder Paez, both aged 17, have both dropped Palmer’s ‘cold’ celebration since signing for the club and the Englishman says it has been ‘nice’ but ‘a bit weird’ to see other players copy his trademark move.

Quizzed on how he feels about players copying the celebration, Palmer replied: ‘Yeah, I saw a few players do it.

‘The two young lads who have signed for Chelsea have done it and I think a few others players as well.

‘It’s funny, isn’t it? It’s nice. Obviously they’re going to be playing with us next year so it’s nice.’

Asked if he has told them they can’t take his celebration, Palmer replied: ‘No, they’re not taking it, they’re just trying to [emulate] me.’

‘It’s a bit weird, yeah, but it is what it is.’

Palmer hopes he has given Southgate a ‘decision’ to make with his eye-catching displays off the bench ahead of England’s quarter-final encounter with Switzerland in Dusseldorf.

‘Obviously I want to start like everyone wants to start,’ he explained.

‘But if I don’t start then I’ve got to try and make enough of an impact off the bench so I do start.

‘I’ve got to make him [Southgate] think, give him a decision.

Asked what his immediate aim is coming off the bench, Palmer replied: ‘Attack. That’s my only thought when I get the ball.

‘Obviously when I can’t then I have to go backwards but my first thing is to just go.’

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