Ryan Giggs has backed Cole Palmer to “fit the bill” at Manchester United if the Chelsea forward becomes available in the summer transfer window. The former United winger said Palmer could operate off the right and added that the club need more players who can create when Bruno Fernandes is not at his best.
“Yeah, he would, Manchester lad,” Giggs said. “Where would he play with obviously Bruno [Fernandes] at No.10? He could play off the right possibly.” He also pointed to United’s reliance on Fernandes, saying, “But yeah, we talk about [Rasmus] Hojlund and [Benjamin] Sesko, it’s only really Bruno who is creating things time and time again.”
United spent in the region of £200million overhauling their attack last summer, bringing in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, but they are still exploring potential avenues to strengthen their final third at the end of the season. Palmer, 24, has emerged as a genuine target, and reports say he would be open to a move to Old Trafford.
That possibility would run into a hard wall at Chelsea. Palmer joined from Manchester City in 2023 for £42.5million and is under contract until 2033, giving Chelsea a strong hand if United or any other club test their resolve. The club are said to be adamant that he is not for sale, even as the midfielder continues to attract attention after becoming one of the most important attacking players in the league.
The interest has gathered pace after a campaign in which muscle problems and a broken toe kept Palmer sidelined for several matches. Recent reports have claimed he has grown disillusioned with life at Chelsea, particularly after Nicolas Jackson was loaned to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Giggs’ comments have only sharpened the debate, because they frame Palmer not as a luxury but as cover for a team that still leans heavily on Fernandes.
Palmer himself has sounded far more relaxed about life away from Manchester. In an interview with, he said: “Everyone just talks. When I see it I just laugh,” before adding, “Obviously Manchester is my home. All my family are there, but I don’t miss it.” He went on: “Maybe I’ll miss it if I don’t go for three months or something. But then when I get home I think there’s nothing there for me anyway.”
He also made clear that Chelsea are not thinking small. “We want to win now and I think if we add right in the summer we can compete for serious trophies next season. I don’t think we’re far off,” Palmer said. That leaves United chasing a player Chelsea believe they can keep, a target who knows Manchester well and a move that would turn a summer rumor into one of the season’s biggest transfer battles.
