EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd plot Cole Palmer swoop with Chelsea willing to listen to offers

Steve Kay

Updated: 9 Jan 2026 21:36 GMT
3 min read

Manchester United are ready to make a blockbuster move for Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, with the Stamford Bridge club open to selling the England international star, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

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Multiple sources have confirmed that the Blues are considering cashing in on Palmer, who arrived on a €47 million move from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 and has developed into one of the world’s top attacking midfield players.

United have a long-standing admiration of Palmer and have already held behind-the-scenes talks about putting together a bid for the 23-year-old.

Current ETV

Cole Palmer

M (C)

Chelsea

Cole Palmer

M (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€89.7M - €109.6M

Uncertainty continues to dog the future of Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes, and Palmer would arrive at Old Trafford as a direct replacement for the Portuguese.

Bruno has been heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League on multiple occasions in the past, and with a big supporter in the form of Ruben Amorim having now departed Old Trafford, there is fresh uncertainty over what the long-term future holds for the Man Utd captain.

Furthermore, Palmer appears to be open to the idea of leaving Chelsea, according to a source close to the London club.

Man Utd record deal incoming?

Details of what United are willing to offer for Palmer have not yet emerged, while there is also uncertainty over what sort of money Chelsea would require to be tempted into a sale.

Palmer boasts an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €99.7 million, which suggests that any deal that is made will have to be above the €100m mark and would likely even break Man Utd’s club record, which remains Paul Pogba’s 2016 move from Juventus for €105m.

Such a deal would be a major statement of intent from a Manchester United team that has lost its way in recent years.

More of a priority for the Red Devils immediately will be finding a long-term replacement for the sacked Amorim, but the promise of signing players such as Palmer certainly makes the role significantly more attractive.

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