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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Man City starlet Cole Palmer shines as England U21s reach Euros final

Cole Palmer scored and teed up two more as England defeated Israel to reach the Under-21 European Championship final.

England have been sensational in the prestigious tournament and are yet to even concede a goal in their five matches. The 3-0 victory over Israel on Wednesday night has booked a final with Spain on Saturday in Georgia, with kick-off coming at 5pm.

Palmer was the star of the show as the Manchester City starlet set up the opening goal for Morgan Gibbs-White - who had earlier missed a penalty Palmer had helped create - with a pinpoint deep cross into the box which the Nottingham Forest playmaker brilliantly headed home from 12 yards. The Young Lions doubled their lead after the hour mark to put the game to bed with a scintillating move.

This time Gibbs-White was the creator as he played a lovely series of passes with Arsenal's Emil Smith-Rowe before the winger dragged the ball across the box for Palmer to turn in on the stretch at the far post.

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An electrifying England made it three in the final minute of play as Palmer played a cute one-two with substitute Cameron Archer before the Aston Villa striker blasted into the top corner.

While Palmer impressed he wasn't the only Manchester City player to do so. Lee Carsley's side has been built on a solid foundation and Blues pair James Trafford and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have been crucial.

It's now the fifth clean sheet goalkeeper Trafford has kept in succession for the U21s and he has only conceded in two of his 10 matches all together. The shot-stopper made waves on loan at Bolton Wanderers for the last 18-months and his performances have earned him a big Premier League move.

City have accepted an initial figure of £15m from newly promoted Burnley with a further £4m in add-ons. There will also be a 20 per cent sell-on clause in the deal and a buy-back option. Trafford is now waiting to complete a medical but talks between himself and Burnley are at an advanced stage.

Centre-back Harwood-Bellis spent last season on loan with Vincent Kompany's side and was crucial to their Championship triumph. Burnley would like the 21-year-old back and he has just a year left on his contract.

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