Cole Palmer has reacted to reports that suggest Chelsea are ‘leading the chase’ to sign Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
Reports suggest that Chelsea is interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. The 19-year-old has reportedly caught the attention of the Blues after United’s contract talks with his representatives hit a standstill. Chelsea is said to be in a strong position to secure his signature if he fails to agree to new terms at Old Trafford, according to the Daily Mail.
Mainoo signed a contract extension last year that runs until 2027 and has since discussed terms that reflect his role as a first-team player and an England international. However, United appears to be working on reducing their wage bill by possibly offloading high earners like Casemiro, Antony, and Marcus Rashford.
Mainoo is said to be uncertain about the club’s direction and his prospects of playing in the Champions League soon. This news has raised some eyebrows, with the Instagram account thesecretscout1 posting an edited image of Mainoo in a Chelsea kit, asking fans if the move would be a good decision for him.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer liked the post and even participated in a poll about whether Mainoo’s potential move to Chelsea would be beneficial, considering Mainoo’s rise to a first-team regular at United since his debut in 2023.
It remains unclear whether Palmer voted ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but his liking of the Instagram post implies he might be open to the idea of having Mainoo at Chelsea.
In addition, it has been reported that Mainoo is seeking a substantial pay raise in order to turn down Chelsea and sign a new contract with his childhood club.
According to the Daily Mail, Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho—whose contract runs until 2028—could be sold, as both are homegrown players, and their departures would be counted as ‘pure profit’ for financial fair play and sustainability purposes.
If Manchester United wishes to extend Mainoo’s contract, it is said that the 19-year-old is demanding wages around £200,000-per-week for new terms.
