Cole Palmer could leave Chelsea this summer as the Blues look to balance the books, with Manchester City interested in bringing him back to the Etihad.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a stunning debut season with the Blues after his £40m move from City in 2023, scoring 22 Premier League goals in 33 games.
15 league goals followed the next season and that has dropped to 10 in the current campaign, with Palmer hampered by injury.
A groin issue has been managed by the club as they try to avoid him going into surgery, but it has also restricted the England international finding his best form consistently.
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So much so that Palmer is not involved in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, which seemed extremely unlikely not so long ago.
There is set to be another summer of great change at Chelsea with the arrival of Xabi Alonso as manager and the club out of European competition next season.
With the huge reduction in revenue and Alonso likely to want to make signings, players will have to be sold.
There are plenty of players in the Chelsea squad that could be shifted without fans being too disappointed, but they may prove difficult to sell.
There is interest in Palmer from Manchester City, where his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is taking charge from Pep Guardiola.
Manchester United have previously been credited with an interest in the Wythenshawe-born star, but that switch now seems less likely.
TalkSPORT report that a departure is a possibility, with Palmer becoming disillusioned at Chelsea after a disappointing campaign and having already played under three ‘permanent’ managers in three years, with Alonso to be the fourth.
The Sun report that Palmer represents one of Chelsea’s best chances to make a big profit on a player and stay in line with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Despite his declining form, he would not leave Stamford Bridge for less than £80m.
City and United will have to prioritise their spending, with both also linked with a move for £100m-rated Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
There are other big names linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer, with Enzo Fernandez touted as a possible signing for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and…Manchester City.
Marc Cucurella is wanted by Atletico Madrid and has also been linked with his former club Barcelona.
Joao Pedro has also been named as a Barcelona target, but the Blues are not interested in letting the Brazilian go.