Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer would seriously contemplate a return to Man City under the right circumstances, according to reports.
English tabloid The Sun claims that the 23-year-old has not settled into life down south and he is still homesick, despite having swapped Manchester for London two and a half years ago.
It is believed that Palmer would be very “tempted” by a return to the Etihad Stadium if Enzo Maresca is appointed as Pep Guardiola’s successor.
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He was managed by the Italian in City’s Under 21s and for over a year at Chelsea, and the pair are believed to have a strong bond.
What are the chances of Maresca being hired?
One of the most trusted journalists around, The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, has said that Maresca was contacted by City via intermediaries on three separate occasions prior to his sacking by Chelsea.
It suggests that Maresca is being considered as a potential replacement for manager Pep Guardiola, who has been tipped to leave his position at the end of the season.
Maresca won’t be the only candidate under consideration, though, with Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany and former Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso also expected to be on the club’s shortlist, along with several other names.
Should Man City seriously contemplate re-signing Palmer?
There is no doubt that the England international has flourished since leaving the Cityzens. He has scored 48 goals and provided 29 assists in 111 appearances for Chelsea, averaging a goal contribution every 1.43 games.
However, Palmer’s form and fitness have deteriorated over the past 12 months. He has been carrying a groin injury since the Club World Cup, which is still being managed, and he has only scored 8 non-penalty goals since the start of 2025.
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