Cole Palmer has had a tough season at Chelsea due to injuries, with the England star linked with a return to Manchester
Cole Palmer reportedly has doubts at Chelsea (Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior insists he is happy at the club following reports that Cole Palmer could return to Manchester. Palmer has been plagued by injuries this season and some have suggested he may be unstable in west London.
The 23-year-old playmaker has only started 10 of Chelsea’s 22 Premier League games this season. He has been suffering from a persistent groin injury and has only scored five goals in 13 appearances in all competitions in 2025/26.
The Sun reported earlier this week that Palmer has been “unsettled” at Chelsea since joining from his boyhood club Manchester City in September 2023 and is “not particularly enjoying life” there. Despite coming from City’s academy, he grew up a Manchester United fan and there are rumors that he could be open to a return to Manchester.
“I’ve spoken to Cole a number of times and he seems very happy to be here,” Rosenior told a press conference on Friday ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Sunday. “He plays a big role in our long-term plans.
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“My job, and the club’s job, is to get him into a situation where he can perform consistently at the level we want. There was frustration in the Brentford game. We need to look after him and that’s why I didn’t include him in the last game.”
Asked if he was 100 percent fit, Rosenior replied: “It’s my job[to get him there]. I have to take care of the players. It’s not just Cole, there are a number of players in the group that I have to take care of. At the end of the season, I want to be involved in big games and big tournaments.”
Palmer scored a penalty in the 2-0 win over Brentford at the weekend and was absent from Wednesday night’s 1-0 Champions League win over Paphos. He will also be involved in the trip to Selhurst Park to face a Palace side reeling from the loss of captain Marc Guehy to City and the revelation that Oliver Glasner will leave in the summer.
Liam Rosenior wants to keep Cole Palmer (Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Chelsea are rumored to be looking to sign a midfielder in the January transfer window, with Douglas Luiz, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, the latest player to attract attention. Rosseniol was asked about the need for a new midfielder in the absence of Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia.
“Unfortunately, Dario had a really unfortunate injury,” he said. “He missed training and will be out for more than a month. It’s great that Romeo is coming back. He’s a very good player at a very high level. We have Enzo (Fernández), Moi (Caicedo), Andrei Santos and Reece James, which is not bad. We don’t want to bring in players that don’t strengthen the group and the chemistry that we’re building.”
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