Liam Rosenior makes new Cole Palmer transfer vow as Manchester United links addressed

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Evening Standard

·27 Januari 2026

Liam Rosenior makes new Cole Palmer transfer vow as Manchester United links addressed

Shock reports have claimed that Blues talisman is homesick and would welcome switch to boyhood club

Liam Rosenior insists that Cole Palmer is settled at Chelsea and that rumours of his preference to leave for Manchester United are “unrealistic”.

Palmer, born and raised in Manchester and a former player for Manchester City, is a boyhood United fan and over the past week has been the subject of reporting which has suggested that he is homesick in London and would welcome transfer interest from the Red Devils.

But his head coach Rosenior insists the 23-year-old is “happy” at Chelsea and questioned the timing of speculation claiming that Palmer is unsettled, which has come so soon after the departure of former manager Enzo Maresca.

Palmer has missed the last two matches with a small thigh strain but is set to return on Wednesday night when Chelsea face Napoli in the Champions League at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, looking to seal a top-eight finish in their final league phase fixture and automatic progress into the last 16 - without the need for a nervy two-legged knockout play-off tie.

Asked whether Palmer is considered “untouchable” and happy at Chelsea, Rosenior told reporters at his pre-match press conference in Naples on Tuesday evening: “Yes and yes. Cole is an incredible player, like I have the guy sitting next to me [Moises Caicedo] and many players in the group.

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“I'm not surprised at the timing, a new manager comes in and a player is unsettled. It's not true. Cole is here, he’s very happy and I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch.”

Rosenior was also quizzed on whether he has had any conversations with Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, over Palmer’s future amid the links to United. Palmer is under contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2033.

“There's no reason for an assurance,” Rosenior insisted. “It's so unrealistic [that he would join United]. It's come from nowhere.

“There is no need to have the conversation. Cole is happy. You can't stop speculation, but some speculation is so far from the truth there is no point having a conversation about it.”