Cole Palmer could be on the move to Manchester United and the boyhood Red Devils fan had a cheeky way to show his love while in the Manchester City academy
12:24, 27 Jan 2026Updated 12:28, 27 Jan 2026
Chelsea's Cole Palmer during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge on January 17, 2026 in London, England.
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Cole Palmer could be set for a Manchester homecoming(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Cole Palmer might be one step away from making his childhood dreams come true.
The young Chelsea talisman and England midfielder might have come through Manchester City's academy, but as a kid he was a Manchester United superfan. As a child, he would pretend to be Wayne Rooney in his back garden: “What a player," he said in 2023.
"When I was growing up I used to watch all the football and the one that sticks in my mind is Rooney. Ever since I was a little kid he has been my footballing hero.” And Palmer would push the limits in the City academy, wearing a full United kit.
Cole Palmer
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Cole Palmer is a Manchester United fan(Image: X)
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His grandfather Sterry told the Daily Mail: “When he first joined City, he used to wear a United shirt or some sort of United garment under his sky-blue shirt.
“He was a United fan but City offered the better set-up, they had the better training facilities and were able to better nurture his talent.
“The fact that he did support United never held him back, though, when City played against them at junior level because he used to absolutely smash them.”
Guardiola has worked with Palmer and Sancho in the past
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Cole Palmer won't return to Man City while Pep Guardiola is in the hot seat(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The 23-year-old made his professional debut with City, but largely found himself coming off the bench under Pep Guardiola. And reports suggest he won't entertain a return while the Catalan is in the dugout.
Palmer moved to Chelsea, and during his two-and-a-half-year stint at Stamford Bridge, the England star has notched an impressive 48 goals and 29 assists.
However, according to recent reports, he's feeling homesick in London, and would like to move back to Manchester, but this time to the red half of the city.
Cole Palmer could make a transfer that would give Chelsea and Manchester City fans a chill
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Cole Palmer could make a transfer that would give Chelsea and Manchester City fans a chill(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
The Sun have now claimed Palmer would be open to a move to Old Trafford, if the club were keen to sign him. But any deal might hinge on the future of Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, and United may offer him an increased £400,000 per week to keep him from accepting a substantial deal elsewhere.
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Accommodating both Palmer and Fernandes in the team could be challenging. Palmer has seen his peak performance come when assuming the role of No.10 at Chelsea.
Should Fernandes opt to extend his tenure, it raises questions about Palmer's role in the team.