Jamie Carragher predicts Manchester United will buy Chelsea star Cole Palmer next summer.
Palmer was vying for a spot in the Manchester City team this time last year, but he is now Chelsea’s most crucial player and a Premier League star.
Before joining Chelsea for £40 million, the 22-year-old played 41 games for his hometown club City.
Palmer quickly adjusted to his new circumstances, delivering a fantastic season for Chelsea that earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England side for Euro 2024.
He scored 25 goals and contributed 15 assists in 45 appearances during his first season in west London, claiming the Premier League Young Player of the Season award for 2023-24.
Palmer was not a starter for England’s Euros team out in Germany but made an impact from the bench, most notably scoring an equaliser in the final against Spain before Luis de la Fuente’s side nicked a late winner.
Chelsea were keen to reward Palmer for his sensational first campaign at the club and simultaneously bat away any potential interest from elsewhere and did so by handing him a new contract, hypothetically keeping him at the club until 2033.
Whether Palmer is still at Chelsea in a decade remains to be seen, however, and Carragher believes he could leave as soon as next summer if the Blues have ‘another poor season’.
The ex-Liverpool and England defender can even see Manchester United making an audacious move for Palmer to finally solve their issues on the right flank.
‘Something’s just come to me here,’ Carragher said on an episode of The Overlap with Sky Bet.
‘If Chelsea have another poor season, we were talking earlier about Manchester United having a real problem on that right wing.
‘He [Palmer] is a big Man United fan isn’t he? Would that not be something that United should visit maybe in 12 months if it doesn’t go well?
‘You know what, I think that could happen. Yeah, Cole Palmer to Man United.’
Earlier in the month, Palmer put pen to paper on a new contract meaning he is now on a nine-year deal with Chelsea and on improved terms.
‘I’m delighted to sign this new deal,’ said Palmer, who will look to help Chelsea clinch their first Premier League win of the new season on Sunday against Wolves.
‘I achieved a lot in my first season here and hopefully I can continue to experience great things at this club, both on a personal level and in terms of bringing success and trophies to Chelsea.’
Palmer suffered an injury scare in Chelsea’s Europa Conference League win over Servette on Thursday night but has allayed fears he could miss Sunday’s trip to Wolves.