Top News

Speculation is beginning to swirl around Cole Palmer's long-term future following reports that the Chelsea man is 'homesick' in London and misses his friends from Manchester. Palmer moved to the capital of England in September 2023 from Manchester City in a move worth up to £42.5million. He has since established himself as one of the most talented players in the Premier League.

England international Palmer, who has 12 caps for his country and scored in the Euro 2024 final, has produced 48 goals and 29 assists in 110 appearances for the Blues. His contributions have earned him a spate of individual honours, including being named Chelsea Players' Player of the Season, the Premier League Young Player of the Season and earning a spot in the 2025 FIFPRO World 11. But despite his success, there are concerns he is unsettled down south.

Manchester United are one of very few clubs with the means to pull off a blockbuster transfer for Palmer. And the 23-year-old has already been publicly spotted in a United shirt after a picture leaked of him wearing a 2010-11 Man Utd home shirt as a child.

Asked on TNT in April 2024 about the picture, after he scored a hat-trick against United in a 4-3 win for Chelsea, the Wythenshawe-born-and-raised Palmer replied honestly: "Yeah, when I was growing up I was a United fan."

That will give fans of the Red Devils hope they could pull off a mega-money swoop to bring Palmer back to Manchester three years after he left City.

And Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has tipped Palmer to move to a club who would build a team around him. He told Card Player: "If Cole Palmer decides to move away from Chelsea then that's his business, but I just want him to respect the club, because they are the ones who have given him the tools to become the player he is now.

"I would love him to stay at Stamford Bridge because he's got a key role in the team, even if Enzo Maresca used him in various positions. I believe Palmer wants more stability and a system that's built for him.

"But he still needs to fully recover from his groin injury and get back to full fitness. His recent performances speak for themselves, so he needs to stay humble and come back into the team to help the club, regardless of whether he stays or goes.

"The question is whether he feels like Chelsea are going to win the Premier League in the next two seasons. If he doesn't, I'm sure he will ask for a transfer request to a club that will build a system around him.

"For now, however, he needs to hit his previous levels for Chelsea to help them and their new manager through this period."

Palmer's injury-interrupted campaign has seen him contribute five goals in 13 games for Chelsea after he scored a penalty in their win over Brentford. The Londoners sit sixth in the Premier League table after 22 games, one point behind United in fifth and two away from fourth-placed Liverpool.