After reportedly becoming unsettled at Chelsea, childhood Manchester United fan Cole Palmer has been linked with a return to the North West to join The Reds.
Cole Palmer, born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, joined the Manchester City academy in 2010 despite being a childhood Manchester United fan.
After ten years in the youth system, he made his debut for City in 2020 in a 3-0 win away over Burnley in the EFL Cup.
The 23-year-old struggled for regular game time, making 19 appearances across three years, and joined Chelsea before the start of the 2023-24 Premier League season for a £40 million fee on a seven-year contract.
In his first season in London, he enjoyed a break-out season, scoring 27 and assisting 15 across all competitions, picking up both the Premier League Young Player of the Season, as well as the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year.
Palmer becomes unsettled in London
As reported by The Sun, Palmer is unsettled in London, two and a half years after leaving the North West to join Chelsea, with the outlet also reporting that the 23-year-old would welcome interest from his boyhood club, Manchester United.
The outlet reports that Palmer misses his hometown, frequently returning to see family and friends in the North West, and with sources saying that Palmer wouldn’t entertain a return to City, it leaves United in pole position for his signature.
Palmer hasn’t had the best of seasons this term, being sidelined for large portions of the season owing to groin problems.
As a result, he has only featured in 12 Premier League games this season, scoring four goals.
INEOS will be key in signing potential Fernandes replacement
Reports suggest that Bruno Fernandes has become disillusioned with Manchester United’s project, and, after declining a move to the Saudi Pro League last summer, could leave the club after the World Cup in the summer.
At 31, and with his contract set to run until next year, with an option for an additional year, INEOS may think that now is the right time to seriously consider letting the club captain leave, with it being reported that he can transfer overseas for a fee of £57 million in the summer.
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Since INEOS took over at Old Trafford, several former Manchester City staff members, such as their former head of academy Jason Wilcox, who oversaw proceedings when Palmer was breaking through, as well as Omar Berrada, their previous chief operating officer, who will oversee recruitment at United this summer.
The potential deal’s two main sticking points come in Chelsea’s reported unwillingness to let Palmer leave, as well as his contract, which now runs to 2033 after signing a two-year extension in 2024
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