^ ^ Chelsea set Cole Palmer asking price with summer transfer a possibility

Cole Palmer has had a frustrating season at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)

Cole Palmer could leave Chelsea this summer as the Blues look to balance the books, with Manchester City interested in bringing him back to the Etihad.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a stunning debut season with the Blues after his £40m move from City in 2023, scoring 22 Premier League goals in 33 games.

15 league goals followed the next season and that has dropped to 10 in the current campaign, with Palmer hampered by injury.

A groin issue has been managed by the club as they try to avoid him going into surgery, but it has also restricted the England international finding his best form consistently.

The countdown is on

Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.

So much so that Palmer is not involved in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, which seemed extremely unlikely not so long ago.

There is set to be another summer of great change at Chelsea with the arrival of Xabi Alonso as manager and the club out of European competition next season.

With the huge reduction in revenue and Alonso likely to want to make signings, players will have to be sold.

Palmer will not be at the World Cup this summer (Picture: Getty Images)

There are plenty of players in the Chelsea squad that could be shifted without fans being too disappointed, but they may prove difficult to sell.

There is interest in Palmer from Manchester City, where his former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is taking charge from Pep Guardiola.

Manchester United have previously been credited with an interest in the Wythenshawe-born star, but that switch now seems less likely.

Cole Palmer has only shown flashes of his brilliance this season (Picture: Getty Images)

TalkSPORT report that a departure is a possibility, with Palmer becoming disillusioned at Chelsea after a disappointing campaign and having already played under three ‘permanent’ managers in three years, with Alonso to be the fourth.

The Sun report that Palmer represents one of Chelsea’s best chances to make a big profit on a player and stay in line with Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Despite his declining form, he would not leave Stamford Bridge for less than £80m.

City and United will have to prioritise their spending, with both also linked with a move for £100m-rated Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

Xabi Alonso takes his first Premier League job (Picture: Getty Images)

There are other big names linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer, with Enzo Fernandez touted as a possible signing for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and…Manchester City.

Marc Cucurella is wanted by Atletico Madrid and has also been linked with his former club Barcelona.

Joao Pedro has also been named as a Barcelona target, but the Blues are not interested in letting the Brazilian go.

Comments Add as preferred source

^ ^ PSG have a ‘feeble’ weak link Arsenal can exploit in Champions League final

Arteta has been urged to target him in Budapest this weekend (Picture: Getty)

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack has urged the Gunners to target the ‘vulnerable’ and ‘feeble’ Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the Champions League final.

Arsenal, fresh from winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, are chasing a remarkable double in Budapest this weekend against the defending champions.

PSG thrashed Inter Milan in last year’s final and demonstrated the extent of their strengths across two legs against Bayern Munich last month.

In Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, PSG have perhaps the most formidable attacking unit in Europe with the outstanding Vitinha setting the tempo in midfield alongside Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.

The countdown is on

Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.

Luis Enrique’s side put on a scintillating show of attacking football in the semi-first leg in a thrilling 5-4 victory in the first leg before shutting down the opposition with a resilient rearguard performance away in Germany in the second with Willian Pacho and Marquinhos winning the plaudits that night.

PSG have world class talent across the pitch but are perhaps weakest in goal. The club signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille last summer, paving the way for Gianluigi Donnarumma to join Manchester City.

Chevalier lost his place in the starting XI in January however and while a hamstring injury has kept him out of the picture in recent weeks, Safonov has been as Enrique’s no1 choice in goal, starting every match in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Safonov can be vulnerable on crosses and corners (Picture: Getty)

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Stack however believes he is a major weak link in an otherwise fearsome PSG line-up.

The Gunners’ defence has been the foundation of their success this season with their threat from set pieces well-documented.

Stack, part of the ‘Invicibles’ Arsenal squad that last won the league on 2003-04, believes Safonov ‘has a mistake in him’, urging his old side to put him under ‘severe pressure’ at the earliest opportunity.

‘From what I’ve seen, I’m not being convinced,’ Stack told Metro.

Safonov was a penalty-saving hero in the Club World Cup last summer (Picture: Getty)

‘There were moments over the two-legs against Bayern where he showed signs of vulnerability, certainly when balls were coming in the box.

I think he has got a mistake in him. From what I’ve seen, I think he’s one of the weakest links in that group. If I was Arsenal, I would be putting him under severe pressure, certainly from set plays, which Arsenal are very, very good at. 

‘So balls in the box, when he’s put under pressure, from what I’ve seen, he looks very, very vulnerable. 

‘Physically, he doesn’t have a great presence either. When I look at him, he looks quite slim, and a bit lanky, and a bit feeble. And it doesn’t look like he’s got a great presence in the goal. 

‘So I would definitely try and isolate him and put him under pressure from set plays, and get the ball in the box as much as possible.’

Comments Add as preferred source

^ ^ Mikel Arteta speaks out on his genius Arsenal signing that initially baffled people

Mikel Arteta instinct on his goalkeeper was correct (Picture: Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta pulled off a masterstroke in the transfer market that helped Arsenal win the Premier League title, but admits it was difficult to convince the board it was the right thing to do.

The Gunners have conquered the Premier League for the first time in 22 years and have the chance to add a first Champions League title this weekend as well.

Arteta’s side takes on Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday in Budapest and have the chance to complete one of the great seasons for an English side, although will be underdogs against the defending champions.

It has been a journey of ups and downs since the Spaniard took charge in December 2019, with the team going through a lot of change over the last six-and-a-half years.

The countdown is on

Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.

A notable change Arteta made was in 2023 when he brought in David Raya from Brentford, initially on loan but with an option to make the move permanent.

It was a confusing piece of business at the time as Aaron Ramsdale had only been signed two years earlier and had established himself as the first choice goalkeeper, performing well in the 2022/23 season when Arsenal finished second.

There was an awkward period as Raya adapted to his new surroundings and Ramsdale dealt with his demotion, before leaving for Southampton in 2024.

David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale competed for the gloves in the 2023/24 season (Picture: Getty Images)

The Spanish goalkeeper has gone on to be a star performer for the Gunners and the move entirely vindicated, but it was one that caused confusion at the time, not just among onlookers, but within the club.

Speaking on The Overlap, Arteta explained: ‘That’s a good example of what a manager needs.

‘I was very convinced that we had to make a change. Not because Aaron didn’t have the quality, because I believed to go to the next level that we needed a different profile of goalkeeper.

Raya has been fantastic for Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty Images For Premier League)

‘It was very difficult to explain, difficult to explain upstairs and externally. It could maybe not make sense. That’s when you need a sporting director, in this case Edu to say, “Mikel, are you 100 per cent sure?”

‘I went through it with him again and again. “You know you’re going to have an issue.” I know. “Mikel, you’re going to expose yourself.” I know. “You really want to do this?” Yes, please do.

‘Edu really convinced the board because they need to be convinced and to understand. “Mikel says this, ok let’s do it.” It doesn’t work like this.

Inaki Cana joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2019 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘And then it has to work. And then Inaki [Cana, goalkeeping coach] played a pivotal role because he knew him from Brentford and many years.

‘I wasn’t sure if it was going to work or not but David is going to present himself and dedicate himself to the cause and be an incredible ambassador for the club. I was sure.’

It is safe to say the move has gone very well for Arsenal as Raya has excelled after a slightly shaky start three years ago.

Up Next

The Spain international has won the Premier League Golden Glove for the most clean sheets over the campaign in each of his three seasons with the Gunners, although he shared the award in 2024/25 with Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels.

Only Petr Cech and Joe Hart, with four each, have won the Golden Glove more than the 30-year-old.

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira even named Raya as the club’s Player of the Season, telling Sky Sports: ‘David Raya, for me, has to be the Player of the Season. I think he was outstanding from the first game until the end of the season, I think he was really impressive.

‘He made some really important saves, he won points for Arsenal. For me, I don’t see any other players who were quite outstanding.

‘We’re always going for those forward or creative players, why not a defender, and why not a goalkeeper? I think David, for me, will have my vote.’

Comments Add as preferred source

^ ^ Pep Guardiola told Man City stars Bruno Fernandes incident is unacceptable

Pep Guardiola told his players not to behave like Bruno Fernandes (Pictures: Getty)

Earlier this season Pep Guardiola showed a clip of Bruno Fernandes to his Manchester City players as an example of how not to behave on the football pitch.

The Manchester United captain has had a brilliant campaign, providing a record-breaking 21 assists in the Premier League.

The Portugal international has been named Premier League Player of the Season and won the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year thanks to his performances.

His quality is undeniable, but his behaviour on the pitch has split opinion over his Manchester United career so far.

The countdown is on

Our seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.

This talk has died down in recent times, but Fernandes used to come in for huge criticism for his demonstrative nature, with Roy Keane describing him in 2023 as ‘the opposite of what I would want in a captain.’

Guardiola is also not a fan of some of Fernandes’ behaviour on the field, highlighting an example of how not to act to his City stars.

The Athletic report that after Manchester City hammered the Red Devils 3-0 at the Etihad in September, Guardiola showed his players a clip of Fernandes during the match.

Fernandes has had a fabulous season with Manchester United (Picture: Getty Images)

The clip showed Fernandes fuming with his teammates after Phil Foden opened the scoring for City.

The Manchester City boss made it clear that overtly berating teammates was not acceptable, after seeing Fernandes doing so while the City players celebrated.

Guardiola himself can be extremely animated on the touchline and will often show his dissatisfaction, but he reportedly made it clear that he does not want to see the same from his players.

Guardiola’s attention to detail was illustrated by raising the Fernandes point (Picture: Getty Images)

It was during testing times for Manchester United three years ago that Fernandes was most in the firing line from former players for his behaviour.

After the remarkable 7-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield in March 2023, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: ‘The second half has been an absolute disgrace. It was a shambles, epitomised by captain Bruno Fernandes, who has been embarrassing at times.

‘I have had enough of Fernandes throwing his arms around, whinging at everyone, holding his face when touched.

‘That wasn’t a captain’s performance from a Manchester United player.’

Up Next

In October that year, after another 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Roy Keane said: ‘I would definitely take the captaincy off him, 100 per cent.

‘I know it’s a big decision but Fernandes is not captain material. He’s a talented player, no doubt about it, but his whinging, his moaning, throwing his arms up in the air constantly. It really isn’t acceptable.

‘I would take that off him. You have to start somewhere in terms of making changes. You’re talking about board level, managers, I would start with that.

‘Fernandes is a brilliant footballer, but in terms of captain material, he is the opposite of what I would want in a captain.’

Neville has since praised Fernandes’ improvement as a leader, saying the ‘whinging’ that bothered him in the past is less of an issue now.

Fernandes has helped the development of Kobbie Mainoo (Picture: Getty Images)

‘He’s been exceptional since he’s come to the club,’ Neville said in March this year. ‘There was a period about 18 months ago where he dipped a little bit below that standard. But it feels to me right now that he’s playing the very best and most comfortable I’ve seen him.

‘He’s exceptional on the ball, he’s seeing passes earlier, but he’s always seen passes early.

‘I’ve got the utmost admiration for him. I think also the whinging that I had a problem with two or three years ago. Always complaining at teammates, that’s definitely tempered. I think he’s matured.

‘I don’t think that’s something that anybody likes to see that, you want to see players coming together. I think his leadership is getting better.’

Comments Add as preferred source