Cole Palmer, a boyhood Manchester United fan, is said be considering his future at Chelsea
Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer grew up supporting Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Cole Palmer has been linked with a sensational move to Manchester United. Despite rising through the ranks at Manchester City's academy and becoming a key player for Chelsea, the attacker was a childhood United fan.
Palmer starred during his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, netting 43 goals and providing 29 assists in 97 matches. However, injuries have hampered his progress this season, limiting the England international to just 13 appearances.
The Sun reports that Palmer might be open to a switch to United in the near future due to feeling unsettled in London, but wouldn't consider going back to City. Since joining Chelsea, he hasn't shied away from expressing his feelings about the club he supported growing up.
After scoring a hat-trick against United at Stamford Bridge in April 2024, Palmer was put on the spot about his boyhood allegiance following his team's 4-3 victory. He told TNT Sports: "Yeah, when I was growing up, I was a United fan.
"I just think to try and do the same thing. But I've scored away and a few here today, so I'm buzzing. I just try and take each game as it comes and show the Chelsea fans and everyone what I came here to do, and that is just play football."
Later that year, Palmer spoke openly about his childhood allegiance when discussing his hero. He told talkSPORT: "Wayne Rooney. I was a United fan when I was younger, and I used to watch him all the time."
In January 2025, the Chelsea star confessed to Sky Sports that returning to Old Trafford still evoked fond memories. He said: "When I do go back to the stadium, it's good because I used to go and watch matches there."
Cole Palmer
Palmer is said to be keen to return to his north-west roots(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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While Palmer clearly maintains a sentimental connection to United, he has managed to separate those feelings from his career. Despite rumours suggesting he's unhappy, Palmer recently penned a new Chelsea contract running until 2033, meaning any potential transfer would require a big fee.
New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has dismissed the speculation surrounding Palmer, saying: "I've had numerous conversations with Cole, and he seems very happy to be here. He's a huge part of 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. We need to look after him, and that's why I didn't involve him in the last game (against Crystal Palace)."
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