Cole Palmer’s remarkable rise since leaving Manchester City in 2023 has caught the attention of a Champions League winner, who believes the Chelsea and England playmaker ‘would probably like’ to join Manchester United, the club he grew up supporting.
Few anticipated Palmer’s meteoric development after City sold him for £40m in the summer of 2023. Though Pep Guardiola approved the transfer, he may now regret his decision, watching Palmer shine for both club and country over the past 18 months.
Last season, Palmer led the Premier League in goal involvements, earning accolades such as the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
At Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate was criticised for his limited use of the 22-year-old, who made an impact in his few opportunities, including scoring in the final loss to Spain.
Now in his second season at Chelsea, Palmer has become a key player for the title-challenging Blues. His performances have placed him among Europe’s elite, with many questioning how Manchester United let a lifelong fan slip through their fingers.
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam also wonders how the Red Devils failed to sign Palmer. Speaking to Sport Lens, Stam remarked, “Seeing Cole Palmer’s potential, you do wonder how United missed out on him. Maybe they tried but couldn’t close the deal. As a fan of the club, he’d probably like to move there someday.”
Stam added, “In his current form, there might not be any club that can afford him. At this rate, he could one day be worth £200m.”
Palmer’s brilliance has propelled Chelsea to second in the Premier League, just two points behind Liverpool. The Blues, under Enzo Maresca, head to Goodison Park to face Everton before hosting Fulham on Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, sitting in the bottom half of the table under new manager Ruben Amorim, prepare to face an in-form Bournemouth this weekend.