“If I were him…”: Chelsea icon sends clear message to Cole Palmer over bombshell switch to Old Trafford

Manchester United’s reported interest in Cole Palmer has received a strong warning from Gus Poyet. According to Manchester Evening News, the ex-Chelsea midfielder believes Palmer should remain at his current club rather than move to Old Trafford. These comments come as Palmer continues to be linked with a switch to M16. His name has been regularly appearing in transfer discussions recently. Blunt verdict The 58-year-old left no room for doubt when asked about the idea of Palmer joining United. His response was simply, “I wouldn’t, if I were him.” The former Uruguay international also observed that United’s name does not carry the same weight as it once did, remarking that it is “not the United from Sir Alex Ferguson.” In addition, he went further to assert that “Chelsea now is a better club” compared to United in terms of structure and consistency. Bigger picture Furthermore, Poyet’s argument extended beyond club conditions. He also raised concerns about Palmer’s role on the pitch. The 23-year-old left Manchester City after being used on the wing by Pep Guardiola. The former Tottenham Hotspur man therefore suggested similar questions would arise again if Palmer were pushed into wide areas at United. Poyet also made it clear that he wants Palmer to stay at Stamford Bridge. Moreover, he stressed that the Blues need him and emphasised that he rates the England international highly. From a United perspective, Palmer’s name continues to be mentioned when people discuss future attacking or creative options. Based on Poyet’s view, however, the message is that if Palmer is considering what is best for him right now, West London is the ideal place to stay. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.