Man Utd information: Cole Palmer ‘very tempted’ by £120m switch as summer time plan recognized
Manchester United need to sign several new players this summer transfer window, while Chelsea star Cole Palmer could be tempted by a move to Old Trafford
Michael Carrick’s Manchester United future beyond the end of the season remains unknown
Manchester United will be looking to strengthen their hold on third place in the Premier League when they take on Bournemouth at the weekend.
The Red Devils bounced back impressively from their loss to Newcastle a week prior as they saw off fellow Champions League qualification contenders Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko guided Michael Carrick’s team to a 3-1 victory.
United have turned the tide since ditching Ruben Amorim in January, with the squad thriving under their interim manager. Nevertheless, with the Champions League likely to return to Old Trafford next season, United need to strengthen their squad suitably this summer – including signing a replacement for the departing Casemiro. Here’s all the latest news from Old Trafford.
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Cole Palmer temptation
Chelsea midfielder Palmer could be enticed by a remarkable transfer to United, the club he followed as a youngster, reports the Mirror.
Palmer signed a massive nine-year contract extension in 2024, which ties him to Stamford Bridge until 2033. But he is said to be ‘open’ to a move to his boyhood club, with his price tag rumoured to be in excess of £120m.
According to Tottenham and Newcastle legend Chris Waddle, the England star, 23, could make the switch if he feels frustrated with life in west London, with the former Manchester City player enduring a difficult spell in recent months.
Speaking exclusively to Ozoon, Waddle said: “Palmer is definitely a talent, and I’m a big fan. I know he’s had patches and hasn’t been consistent since he went to Chelsea.
“Whether it’s off-the-field issues or unhappiness in London, we don’t know, only he can answer that. Chelsea have a massive squad, so he’s rested, played, rested, and brought on. He probably wants to play every game, as players do. If he’s a Manchester lad and supposedly a United fan, I’m sure he’d be very tempted.”
Nevertheless, he cautioned that Palmer’s playing time might be restricted should he relocate to Manchester. He continued: “However, with Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes, you can only play so many creative players. Will he get in the team?”
“Most teams, you’d say yes, but Fernandes and Cunha are in good form right now. Yes, Cunha can play further forward, on the left, or on the right, but he likes to roam. So, where would you play Palmer? But as I said earlier, United will have to clear the decks. There are a few aged players they’ll probably look to get rid of.”
Gary Neville urges United to act
Neville has identified the four signings he anticipates his former club to secure this summer and beyond. United are reportedly preparing to splash out on two fresh midfielders to replace Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte, but the former right-back believes they require more.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: “The centre of midfield is a problem. Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro are doing a great job right now for Michael Carrick.
“However, every Manchester United fan in this stadium knows that is going to be nowhere near enough when they start playing in the Champions League next season.
“It is more than likely they will [qualify], and when they play a bit further in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and they are playing in the Champions League, they are going to need three or four really good midfield players. At the moment, you’ve got Mainoo, a midfield player you can buy into, but you can’t really look at any of the others and think that is going to work.
“Casemiro is leaving, and I think Manuel Ugarte will leave. They need two really good central midfield players. Probably one that’s more positional, like a Michael Carrick-type, and one that’s more of a destroyer. The back needs looking at but midfield would be the real focus in the summer transfer window.”
He warned that United also need to bolster their defence, but suggested any overhaul on their backline would have to be postponed. Neville added: “It might then be the summer after [this one] when they finally get round to new centre-backs because they have got a problem.
“The problem at centre-back actually at the moment is that [Matthijs] De Ligt and [Lisandro] Martinez arguably – with [Harry] Maguire – their two best centre-backs, can’t get on the pitch and it’s a real problem.
“[Luke] Shaw is playing every week and he’s more than good enough to play out here every week, let’s be clear, but how long is that going to last for? Can he do that next season, the season after and the season after?”
