Danny Murphy backs Chelsea star to ‘succeed’ Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United

Danny Murphy admits he ‘could see’ Cole Palmer leaving Chelsea to ‘succeed’ Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.

Palmer has been tentatively linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, with reports claiming he is unsettled at Stamford Bridge.

The England international enjoyed a stunning first season at Chelsea following his £40m move from Manchester City, scoring 27 goals and providing 15 assists to win a number of awards, including the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Palmer has failed to hit those numbers over the past two seasons but is still an integral member of the Chelsea squad and, when fit and firing, one of the best players in the Premier League.

It has been claimed that Palmer, 23, would be receptive to a move back to Manchester, where he was born and raised, and could be tempted to join United.

Ex-England midfielder Murphy would not be surprised if Palmer joined the Red Devils and says he would be an ideal ‘successor’ to United captain Fernandes.

Fernandes remains one of the most important players at Old Trafford but is already being linked with a move away from the club ahead of the summer transfer window.

Al-Hilal made a huge offer for the Portuguese midfielder last summer and interest from Saudi Arabia is expected to revive this summer as Fernandes enters the final year of his contract.

Asked whether Chelsea needed to qualify for the Champions League to keep hold of Palmer, Murphy told BestBettingSites: ‘No, because they’ve got him under a long-term contract, so they can keep him either way.

‘But qualifying for the Champions League would make it much easier to quieten the noise around other clubs trying to get him.

‘It would definitely help. This season hasn’t been as fruitful as he’d like because of injuries and getting back to form. He’s had this nagging thigh or groin problem, whatever it is.

‘But he will get through the groin problem and be fine because he’s a special player.

‘The way football works, if you’re a player of that quality and you’ve always had a love for a particular club, it’s not a huge stretch to imagine things lining up.

‘Especially if United were to go on a run. A lot of Chelsea fans think the club is more of a business than a football project, so could I see Cole Palmer leaving for Manchester United? Yes, I could.

‘I wouldn’t want it to happen, but I could see it. Bruno Fernandes needs a successor.’

While Palmer may not be ruling out a summer move, Chelsea reportedly view the playmaker as one of at least three ‘untouchable’ players in the squad.

But Arsenal legend and Chelsea fan Paul Merson has repeatedly suggested the Blues would be open to selling Palmer – for a price of over £100m.

In regards to Fernandes’ future at Manchester United, former striker Dwight Yorke believes that could depend on whether or not the club qualify for the Champions League.

Impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal under caretaker boss Michael Carrick sent United back into the top-four, one point above Chelsea and two ahead of Liverpool.

‘Bruno Fernandes has certainly been the talisman of the football club for the past five years,’ Yorke told PokerScout. ‘Bruno has always been a significant player.

‘United have always had really good attacking players and Bruno has fit that without a doubt. He’s been incredible for the football team over the past five years or so.

‘He was resilient in that he didn’t want to go to Saudi, I think that it’s good that the manager backed him at that moment. It’s turned out to be the right decision from a Manchester United standpoint.

‘I wonder if Bruno’s mindset is more positive now, since they added Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha to the team, which gives them a little bit more attacking force.

‘I would like to think that Bruno will look at the whole season come the end of the year.

‘I think he will remain there, but if United fall off and fail to qualify for the Champions League, I think that will change the whole dimension of what he’s thinking might be.

‘At the end of the season, Bruno has to find what is best for him at the end of the day and he has to meet that goal.’

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