Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been linked with a surprise summer move to Manchester United with his future said to be unclear at Stamford Bridge
Cole Palmer looks on
Manchester United have been linked with a summer move for Chelsea star Cole Palmer (Image: Chris Lee - Chelsea FC)
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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has insisted that Cole Palmer is "very happy" to be at Stamford Bridge amid rumours linking him with a move to Manchester United.
Palmer is said to be homesick at Chelsea and is pondering a return to Manchester this summer. The twist is that he would not be heading back to Manchester City as Palmer prefers the red of United – the club he supported as a boy.
The midfielder put pen to paper on a seven-year contract, which included a club option of a further year, at the Blues in September 2023. Shortly after leaving the south of Manchester – in his native Wythenshawe – for west London, Palmer earned his first call-up to the England team, having become a Premier League star at Chelsea.
And Rosenior has now had his say on Palmer's future after being asked about it at his pre-match press conference before Sunday's game at Crystal Palace.
He said: "I've had numerous conversations with Cole and he seems very happy to be here. He's a huge part in our long-term plans.
"My job and the club's job is to get him into a situation where he can consistently perform to the level he wants to. There was frustration in the Brentford game.
"We need to look after him and that's why I didn't involve him in the last game."
Cole Palmer is expected to return for Chelsea against Crystal Palace
Cole Palmer is expected to return for Chelsea against Crystal Palace on Sunday(Image: Visionhaus)
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The 23-year-old, whose season has been plagued by injuries, could return to action when Chelsea lock horns with Palace at Selhurst Park.
He suffered a groin injury at the start of the campaign, only to be rushed back from the treatment room and aggravate the problem a week later. Palmer spent the next two months or so on the sidelines before reappearing in December.
In January 2025, Palmer claimed that he enjoys playing at Old Trafford after growing up as a Reds fan.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the England international said: "When I do go back to the stadium [Old Trafford] it's good because I used to go and watch matches there."
When asked who his idol was growing up, Palmer named Wayne Rooney. He said: "Obviously I supported United and he was probably the best player when I was watching them."