Chelsea's Palmer could cost £80m as United and City weigh summer move

Cole Palmer could leave Chelsea this summer for a minimum of £80 million, with Manchester United and Manchester City identified as potential suitors after the Blues finished 10th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for any European competition next season.

Palmer’s own words have sharpened speculation around his future. Speaking earlier this season, the 22-year-old told reporters: “Hopefully I, and we, can win a lot at Chelsea. If we’re not in the Champions League, everything changes. We need to finish in the Champions League.” Chelsea’s failure to do so has placed those comments under renewed scrutiny.

According to reports in The Sun, £80 million would be the starting point for any negotiations, with separate reports from Spain claiming an £86 million offer from Manchester City is already on the table — a claim that has been met with some scepticism.

A return to the Etihad Stadium carries its own logic. Palmer came through City’s academy before joining Chelsea in 2023, and his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to take charge at City following Pep Guardiola’s departure. Maresca, who is widely credited with unlocking Palmer’s best form during his time at Stamford Bridge, left Chelsea earlier this year after a falling-out with the club’s hierarchy. Liam Rosenior replaced him on an interim basis before Xabi Alonso was confirmed as manager for the 2026/27 season.

Manchester United’s interest has a different texture. Palmer is a boyhood United supporter, and links to Old Trafford surfaced during the season before appearing to cool as the club prioritised other positions. United finished third and will return to the Champions League next season, which could make them a credible destination if Palmer’s primary concern is competing at the highest level in Europe.

Chelsea’s weak negotiating position — no European football means reduced revenue and limited leverage — could complicate any attempt to hold out for a premium above the reported £80 million floor. How aggressively the club pursues a sale, or whether they attempt to rebuild around Palmer under Alonso, is likely to define one of the summer’s most consequential transfer storylines.