Evra warns INEOS about £95m EPL ‘genius’ who’s ‘open’ to Man Utd move | OneFootball

Manchester United legend Patrice Evra believes the club should be cautious when it comes to pursuing Chelsea star Cole Palmer.

The Manchester native grew up supporting the Red Devils, but ended up joining the academy of their crosstown rivals, Manchester City.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

After making his breakthrough with the first team, the attacking midfielder couldn’t find enough space at Pep Guardiola’s court, so he was sold to Chelsea in the summer of 2023 for £40 million.

Cole Palmer grew up supporting Man United

Following his move to Stamford Bridge, the England international emerged as one of the most prolific players in the Premier League, producing goals and assists on a weekly basis.

In recent weeks, Palmer’s boyhood affection for Man Utd reemerged on the scene, especially amidst rumours claiming he’s feeling ‘homesick’ in London.

The Sun journalist Samuel Luckhurst insisted that Palmer would be open to joining United, although no serious talks have taken place on this front. Nevertheless, the journalist pointed out the player’s old rapport with MUFC sporting director Jason Wilcox, who oversaw his development at Man City.

Patrice Evra isn’t sure Palmer would be a success at Man Utd

While many United fans would consider Palmer a dream signing for the club, Evra isn’t completely convinced.

The legendary left-back acknowledges that the 23-year-old is a top talent, but he insists that playing at Man Utd entails a whole different level of pressure than what the player has been accustomed to at Chelsea.

“Cole Palmer is a very promising talent and a rising star, he’s signed a big contract with Chelsea so I’m not sure if he’d be able to leave. I’d welcome him with open arms if he wanted to play for Man United,” said the Frenchman in his interview with Stake via Goal.

“When you play for Man United, you can’t have a good month, you have to perform all year. That’s the pressure of playing for this club. I can’t say if Palmer takes Man United up a level, because the pressure there is different from what it is at Chelsea.”

Evra certainly brings a good point, while also hinting at Palmer’s lack of consistency over the past couple of campaigns.

The Manchester native has been unstoppable at times, with Joe Cole hailing him as a ‘genius’ following Chelsea’s Conference League triumph last season. However, injuries and lack of fitness have also taken their toll on his levels, so he hasn’t always been able to meet the high expectations that stemmed from his delightful performances in the past, especially the ones he produced in the 2023/24 campaign.

At this stage, a move to Man Utd remains highly unlikely. Transfermarkt estimates the midfielder’s value at €110 million (circa £95m), but Chelsea would certainly request a significantly higher figure should they even consider a sale.