Much has been made of Cole Palmer's situation at Chelsea and whether the Englishman will continue his career at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer and the 23-year-old, who moved to west London in the summer of 2023, has already made his feelings known about Manchester United amid links with a move to Old Trafford.
A product of Manchester City's academy system, he struggled to break into first team proceedings under the stern stewardship of Pep Guardiola and opted to join Chelsea two-and-a-half years ago. But ask yourself this: where would the Blues be without Palmer?
It's fair to say that Chelsea's £42.5 million acquisition of the English playmaker, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the Premier League right now, stands out well in their willingness to splurge money on some of football's biggest talents, but he could soon be heading out the exit doors after reports claimed he is 'unsettled' at his current employers.
Cole Palmer's Thoughts About Manchester United Amid Links to Old Trafford
cole palmer chelsea
Since his high-profile move in 2023, Palmer has established himself as a first-team regular in west London and has subsequently gained a spot in the England set-up – although most of his appearances have come off the bench, most notably his cameo in the Euro 2024 final when he scored the Three Lions' equailser in typical Palmer fashion.
His trademark celebration, too, makes him such a marketable player, and he'll certainly have no shortage of clubs sniffing around his availability if he was to leave his current club over the summer.
According to a report from The Guardian, Manchester-born Palmer is feeling "homesick" and is currently weighing up his options ahead of the summer transfer window opening up. Elsewhere, reports have also suggested that he is not "enjoying life" down south and that he "misses" his friends from his hometown of Wythenshawe.
As a result, could a change of scenery be on the horizon? United, who will also be appointing a new manager in the summer, are in the frame for his signature and BBC Sport, per the Express, have claimed that he'd be open to a move to Old Trafford.
Having grown up a supporter of the 13-time Premier League champions, as Palmer himself has revealed, it should come as little to no surprise that a move to United is being mooted. Speaking to Sky Sports in 2025, the 12-cap England international admitted that he relishes the battles at Old Trafford as he “used to go and watch matches” there in his younger years.
Palmer also named none other than Wayne Rooney as his footballing inspiration. "Obviously, I supported United, and he [Rooney] was probably the best player when I was watching them," the young forward admitted.
Owing to his talent, Palmer has not always been kind to United and that's because he scored a hat-trick of strikes in Chelsea's 4-3 victory in 2024. Asked about the club he supports by TNT Sports after the match, he said: "Yeah, when I was growing up, I was a United fan." On whether that acts as extra motivation, he added:
“I just think to try and do the same thing to each time. But I’ve scored away and a few here today, so I’m buzzing.”
For the Stamford Bridge faithful, the news that Palmer may be looking for a new challenge in the summer will leave a sour taste in the mouth given how well he has performed under the bright lights. The club higher-ups, though, are reportedly wanting to build a team around Estevao – one of world football's best young talents – instead of the ex-City man.
A Bruno Fernandes Replacement? Where Would Palmer Fit in at Old Trafford
cole palmer chelsea
Would-be buyers – Sir Jim Ratcliffe's United included – will be aware that a move for Palmer will not be simple given that he is tied down to a contract until the summer of 2033. His wages, which are reported to be £130,000-per-week, could also be a stumbling block in negotiations by virtue of the fact that he'd likely expect a pay increase in the event that he moves onto pastures new in the summer.
After Casemiro announced that he would be leaving at the end of the season, the club's engine room will be subject to a mass overhaul in the summer months and that could be exacerbated by the potential departure of creator-in-chief Bruno Fernandes, whose future at Old Trafford remains uncertain.
Cole Palmer vs Bruno Fernandes: 2025/26 Premier League Stats
Statistic
Minutes
Goals/Assists
Shots per Match
Key Passes per Match
Dribbles per Match
Passing Accuracy
Overall Rating
Palmer, in layman's terms, would be a like-for-like replacement for the United skipper should he move on. Able to play behind the centre-forward but also on the wing, Palmer's creative tendencies in the final third would be the antidote to losing the brilliance of the Portuguese, and he'd certainly bounce off the likes of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. He'd also be likely to strike a relationship with fellow Mancunian Kobbie Mainoo.
All statistics per WhoScored – correct as of 23/01/2026