Manchester City, whose Pep Guardiola (55) managerial era has come to an end, is preparing a sensational offer to re-sign Cole Palmer (24, Chelsea).
British outlet Football365 reported on the 26th (Korean time), citing Spanish media, that City executives offered Chelsea 100 million euros (about 175.1 billion won) to bring Palmer back this summer transfer window.
Palmer left Manchester City for Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for a transfer fee of 40 million pounds (about 81.1 billion won). At the time, Palmer was considered surplus to requirements under Guardiola's management.
But Palmer unleashed his potential after moving to Chelsea. Across a total of 131 matches through this season he has recorded 54 goals and 32 assists, rising to become Chelsea's ace. In league play he has 47 goals and 20 assists in 96 matches.
Moreover, with Chelsea's league results plunging sharply, rumors that he could move to Manchester United during the season have circulated, raising the possibility that Palmer could leave Chelsea in this transfer window.
In particular, Palmer was left out of England's final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America after suffering recent injuries. Rather, that has accelerated the transfer rumors.
The outlet warned, "Missing the World Cup is a wake-up call. Palmer's star status and past achievements are no longer sufficient," adding, "He needs to feel important again, accumulate consistent playing time, and regain confidence in an environment where he can perform as a key player."
City's 100 million-euro bid is tied to the level of financial pressure on Chelsea. Chelsea faces a serious breach in its revenue structure after failing to qualify for next season's European competitions.
Local transfer market expert Alex Crook diagnosed, "Although Chelsea has no plans to sell Palmer, the club is in a very vulnerable position after failing to qualify for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League."
Former City player Gareth Barry also said, "Any player wants to play at a stable club. If the locker-room atmosphere is poor, it's difficult to go to the training ground every day and show your abilities."
He continued, "When players begin to doubt the manager's tactical faith or methods, it leads to a decline in the team's performance," adding, "If Palmer and all other players cannot find long-term stability at Chelsea, it is very natural for them and their agents to look for places where they can achieve greater success."
Palmer is under contract with Chelsea until 2033. Chelsea has recently appointed Xabi Alonso (45) as manager and is planning a team rebuild. It does not appear they will simply let Palmer go. <
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