Cole Palmer has laughed off transfer speculation that he could leave Chelsea for Manchester United this summer.
The two clubs clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night in a high-profile fixture in the race for Champions League qualification next season.
Palmer’s future has inevitably been a talking point in the build-up to the game, following a number of reports over recent months that the former Manchester City midfielder wants to return to his home city amid sustained interest from United.
However, Palmer has now insisted that suggestions that he is homesick are categorically untrue as he ruled out leaving Chelsea, where he is under contract until 2033 after a two-year extension signed in 2024.
“Everyone just talks,” he said in an interview with The Guardian. “When I see it I just laugh. Obviously Manchester is my home. All my family are there, but I don’t miss it.
“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.
“I’ve got no plans to move from Chelsea.”
Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League table ahead of the visit from third-place Manchester United, four points adrift of Liverpool in fifth with six games to play.
Their hopes for Champions League football next term have taken a major blow amid a damaging run of three straight defeats and only one win in the last seven league matches that has seen pressure rise on head coach Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea’s recruitment strategy has come under the microscope, while frustrated fans plan to protest against ownership ahead of the United game - a joint march along with supporters of French side Strasbourg, another club under the BlueCo umbrella.
Palmer has confidence that Chelsea can still grab a Champions League spot and attract the caliber of players they need in the summer, revealing talks with the owners and insisting that captain Reece James would not have signed his recent contract extension without such assurances.
“We spoke to the owners and they’re sure of the players that are gonna do it,” Palmer added. “Reece won’t sign a six-year contract if he’s not spoken to the owners and the directors.
“Me and Reece spoke a lot. About things we need, players we need to sign and how things need to be. He wouldn’t sign a new contract if he didn’t know what was going on.”
