After Cole Palmer was linked with a move to Manchester United, Alan Shearer looked at his own experience to suggest the midfielder would not leave Chelsea to move to the Red Devils
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
21:00, 30 Jan 2026
Cole Palmer has been linked with a move to Manchester United this month(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Alan Shearer has backed Cole Palmer to get over any purported homesickness issues and thrive at Chelsea. The Blues were recently rocked by claims Palmer, 23, had been harbouring desires to return to his Wythenshawe roots and would welcome a switch to Manchester United.
Blues’ head coach Liam Rosenior dismissed such claims as false, before declaring the former Manchester City midfielder as “untouchable.” It has subsequently emerged United will not be pursuing the England international as he falls well beyond their financial reach.
Even if United were going to make a move, Shearer does not believe they would have had the money to persuade Chelsea to part with their talisman. He has also backed Palmer to rise above his homesickness issues.
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When asked about Palmer’s purported longing to return home, Shearer told Betfair: “I got homesick at Southampton but it’s not as if Cole Palmer can run back to Manchester at the first sign of it. I’ve read the reports and I listened to Liam Rosenior after the games saying how happy Cole Palmer is.
“I mean, he didn’t do so bad against Napoli for Chelsea when he came on, and they were under the cosh. I wouldn’t get too carried away by those reports.
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“If it was Cole coming out and saying that, then I would get it and perhaps understand it. I would say the same as what I’ve said before.
“For someone of that standard and how much it would cost to then put yourself in that position to go somewhere else and back to Manchester, that would be a big ask too. I wouldn’t get carried away with those reports as yet.”
United are not expected to make a move for Palmer(Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto)
Palmer is also a lifelong United supporter, which added further weight to the speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford. However, United are not anticipated to be seeking an attacking midfielder, as they are prioritising a defensive one.
Palmer came off the bench to record two assists in Chelsea’s 3-2 away victory over Napoli, which clinched their place in the top eight of the Champions League table. His two passes which led to Joao Pedro’s two strikes were the England international’s first assists of the campaign.
His strong performance was not one of a player who is experiencing intense homesickness. But even if Palmer was longing to return home, Shearer reflected on his own battle with being away to suggest Palmer will likely overcome it.
Shearer opened up about his own homesickness(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
The Newcastle United legend added: “I know what it’s like to get homesick, when I left home at 15. But it’s not as if I could just jump back on a train from Southampton to Newcastle. You sort of get used to that.
“I don’t know his situation, who or what he’s with in terms of partners, but you have to take that into account as well. I got homesick, but it’s not as if Palmer can just run back at the first sign of it, is it?”
Palmer has netted five goals and provided two assists for Chelsea across all competitions this season. Injuries have disrupted his campaign, but his performance in Naples indicates he is returning to peak fitness.
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