Homesick Or Hype? Chelsea's Cole Palmer Linked To Surprise Manchester United Move - Report

Stamford Bridge might be getting a little chillier — and suddenly, Old Trafford feels warmer than it has in years.

Reports from Daily Express and Sky Sports claim Chelsea star Cole Palmer isn’t entirely happy in London and is keen on a return to Manchester.

“Manchester United are on the up”.

Darren Ambrose reacts to emerging reports that Cole Palmer could be willing to move to Old Trafford 🔴 pic.twitter.com/RfpKGDIVFb

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 22, 2026

Palmer being a boyhood Manchester United supporter is no secret. Add whispers of him feeling “homesick,” and suddenly the idea of a sensational homecoming doesn’t feel totally ridiculous — even if it still sits firmly in dreamland territory.

For a depleted and depressed United, Palmer

fits the Old Trafford script almost too well. Chelsea took a gamble on him in 2023 when he couldn’t crack Pep Guardiola’s City XI, and it paid off handsomely. Palmer became their standout performer almost overnight.

But Chelsea are Chelsea. Stability isn’t exactly their calling card. And if the club can’t match Palmer’s ambition — especially amid the current chaos at Stamford Bridge — it’s not crazy to think he might eventually look elsewhere.

That said, reality bites hard. United finished 15th last season and missed out on Europe altogether. On paper, that’s hardly a tempting pitch for one of the Premier League’s brightest stars.

Still, rumours suggest Palmer hasn’t fully settled in the south and could be tempted by a move closer to home — a narrative some call the “worst kept secret” in football.

Worst kept secret in football, Cole Palmer is coming back to Manchester & joining his boyhood club.

4th point even more relevant now that Roseniors in there, already see them getting quoted 70ms for Jacquet.

Cold Trafford 2026 🔜 https://t.co/BQRehLkEyY pic.twitter.com/YIWaGNOlyZ

— MC (@UtdMicah) January 21, 2026

The brakes, though, need tapping.

This isn’t a brand-new story. Similar chatter surfaced back in 2024 and 2025, and nothing came of it. Recent reports focus more on United viewing Palmer as a long-term Bruno Fernandes replacement, with Chelsea supposedly open to listening if offers north of £100m land on the table. His contract runs until 2033, after all.

There’s also zero confirmation that “homesickness” is driving anything. More credible voices point to United’s financial limits, the lack of a permanent manager, and Chelsea’s reluctance to sell their crown jewel without serious reinvestment.

Bottom line? Palmer being a United fan is real. The rest feels like amplified fan chatter wrapped in Chelsea chaos.