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- 9 hours ago
Chelsea told to consider Cole Palmer sale and sign Darwin Nunez by former captain
Suraj Radia
- 28 Feb 2026 06:15 GMT
- 5 min read
News
Chelsea should sign Darwin Nunez as their next striker according to former captain Marcel Desailly, who also suggested that the club should not be afraid to cash in on Cole Palmer.
Nunez joined Al-Hilal last summer after an underwhelming stint at Liverpool but the 26-year-old faces an uncertain future from the Saudi Arabian side after being left out of the squad for the remainder of their league campaign.
Current ETV
Darwin Núñez
F (C), AM (L)
Al-Hilal
Darwin Núñez
F (C), AM (L)
Al-Hilal
ETV Range
€29.8M - €36.4M
With Nunez set for a quick return to Europe in the summer, Desailly believes Chelsea or Manchester United could help the Uruguayan gain the confidence to showcase his true talent.
“I would actually recommend Núñez for Chelsea. He’s a very good player, a smart player – he just needs the right environment to perform,” Desailly told Foot Italia.
“When you start on a bad note, the confidence disappears and the consideration from those around you follows. The confidence wasn’t there. That’s what happened to Núñez at Liverpool.
“A club like Chelsea, or the new Manchester United, would be best for him. He needs to be surrounded by established, confident players who know they’re going to play every weekend and who will give him the ball on the first intention.”
Desailly: Palmer should leave Chelsea if his heart isn’t in it
Nunez has scored six goals in the league this season but Al-Hilal chose to replace him in their squad with January signing Karim Benzema due to the Saudi Pro League side having the maximum number of foreign players.
The situation has left Nunez ready to call it quits after just one season in Saudi Arabia and many Premier League sides have already registered an interest in the former Liverpool star.
Meanwhile, Desailly suggested Cole Palmer should leave Chelsea if his heart is not committed to the club after reports linking the playmaker with a move to Manchester United.
“It’s about the club, not any one player,” Desailly said. “Chelsea have the potential to perform without Palmer.
“He has a long contract, so if he were to leave, significant money would come in that you could reinvest in players who fit the manager’s philosophy.
“I’m sure he’s giving his best to get Chelsea into the top four. But if his heart is telling him to go – well, I had to choose between Monaco and Marseille once, and I followed my heart. I went to Marseille because I was a fan. Players come and go in modern football, but the club is the priority in the hearts of supporters.”
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