Cole Palmer is frustrated with life at Chelsea and is reportedly pushing for a transfer this summer, with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich all options
Cole Palmer of Chelsea
Cole Palmer is reportedly disillusioned with life at Chelsea(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images)
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Chelsea face a battle to keep hold of Cole Palmer in the summer transfer window, with their star player reportedly unsettled and considering his options. News of Palmer's unhappiness in west London is nothing new - but now it seems he is escalating the situation.
The 23-year-old had a frustrating start to the season due to injury problems but is now back as a regular in the Chelsea side. He has contributed 10 goals and three assists in 25 appearances so far in 2025/26 and has a starring role in Liam Rosenior side.
But things have taken a downward turn for the Blues of late, with four straight defeats seeing them knocked out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion 8-2 by Paris Saint-Germain and lose ground in the Premier League. Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League following defeats by Everton and Newcastle and could miss out on Champions League qualification.
That could see them struggling to hold onto the likes of Palmer, despite the playmaker being contracted until 2033. The Sun reports that he is 'increasingly disillusioned' and 'primed to leave' in the summer.
Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all reportedly interested in signing Palmer, who could cost £150million. A move back to Manchester has previously been mooted, although United are understood to be prioritising central midfield and the left wing in the upcoming window.
Palmer is reportedly unhappy with the change in tactics under Rosenior and misses playing with Nicolas Jackson, who was sent on loan to Bayern at the start of the season. Palmer combined well with the Senegal international last season and doesn't have the same connection with Joao Pedro or Liam Delap.
Rosenior has continually insisted that Palmer is going nowhere. "Is he untouchable, is he happy? Yes and yes," the Chelsea manager said in January. "It’s simple, Cole Palmer is an incredible player like many players in the group. Cole is here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.
Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez
Both Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez have been linked with moves away from Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
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"Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him. He loves being here and he wants to be a Chelsea player.”
Asked about Palmer and Enzo Fernandez earlier this month, Rosenior said: “I have a very, very good relationship with the players because we speak all the time. Not just about football, or the situation with their contracts, but about their life, with their kids, how their kids are, how school is. I have a very, very close relationship with Enzo and with the other players.
"In terms of contracts and where they want to be, there's not one player at this club since I've been here that has said that he doesn't want to be here in the summer. In fact, the conversations are more about how we improve, what we can do as a group to improve, what we need to do to win in this moment. And that's where we are at the moment.”
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