Cole Palmer has emerged as a shock transfer target for Manchester United, according to club legend Nicky Butt.
The 24-year-old came through Manchester City’s academy before making his senior debut in 2020, though regular football under Pep Guardiola proved hard to come by. That prompted a 2023 switch to Chelsea, where he wasted no time making an impact — 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 games during his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer helped the Blues lift the Club World Cup and Conference League the following season, before a stop-start, injury-hit campaign last term. This season, though, he’s back to his best: two goals and an assist in two Premier League outings, with Chelsea winning both.
Why United Could Move for Palmer
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt suggested Palmer could one day pull on a United shirt, while fellow pundit Paul Scholes noted the forward has long supported the club.
A left-footed creative operator capable of playing centrally or from the right, Palmer offers set-piece quality, vision, and a knack for long-range strikes — attributes that would slot neatly into United’s attack.
The Bruno Fernandes Factor
Bruno Fernandes remains United’s creative focal point, contributing 31 goals and assists last season and starting this campaign strongly. But at 31, with his contract expiring next summer, United may soon need to plan for his eventual successor.
Backup option Mason Mount has struggled for fitness, leaving a gap United could look to fill. Valued around £86m by Transfermarkt, Palmer represents the kind of long-term investment that could shape United’s midfield for years to come.
