Three ways Man Utd could line-up with Cole Palmer with Chelsea star open to exit

Cole Palmer’s reported desire to move back up north may have Old Trafford bosses giddy with excitement – but is a move Manchester United tactically feasible?

Palmer has been one of Chelsea’s standout players since he joined Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in a surprise move back in 2023.

The 23-year-old notched up 27 goals and 15 assists during his first season with the Blues, although his output has slowed down in recent months.

Consistent, nagging injuries have curtailed his playing minutes this season, with the midfielder scoring only four goals in 12 Premier League appearances so far this term.

And behind the scenes, additional doubts seem to be emerging, with reports suggesting that the young Englishman is unsettled and keen on a move back to Manchester to be closer to family and friends.

On a bumper contract until 2030, Chelsea would no doubt require a seismic fee to part ways with a player, who they deem to be one of their ‘untouchables’.

But Palmer is said to be receptive to offers, and is particularly keen to join United, the club he supported as a young boy.

The Red Devils sought to refresh their attacking options last summer with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, and certainly have other areas of the pitch that need prioritising when it comes to next summer’s transfer window.

But surely no club, United included, would pass up the opportunity to add Palmer to their attacking ranks if a move became feasible.

How United would go about finding space for Palmer in their team is another question, but let’s take a look at three potential solutions…

Bruno Fernandes passes the torch

While still one of United’s most consistent performers, speculation over Bruno Fernandes’ long-term future at United is unlikely to go away anytime soon.

The Portuguese midfielder’s current deal runs until 2027 with the option of a further 12 months, but reports suggest there is already an agreement in place that he can move to an overseas club for £57m in the summer.

Replacing Fernandes’ outrageous consistency would be a tall order, but a fully-fit Palmer in the No10 role wouldn’t be a bad start.

The Englishman is not quite a like-for-like replacement for Fernandes, and would perhaps require greater protection behind him than the current United skipper is blessed with, but he would be ideal in an attacking sense.

Add to that United’s current attacking options, and the new permanent Red Devils boss would have an attacking quartet laden with pace, creativity and an eye for goal.

Push Palmer out to the flanks

Should Fernandes stay at the club, then United would have get more creative with their use of Palmer.

The 23-year-old has predominantly played as a No10, but has also proved a threat as a right winger at Chelsea, most notably in last summer’s Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Amad has impressed in that role under Carrick, while Bryan Mbeumo can also play on the right side, so United aren’t currently short of options in that area of the pitch.

But adding Palmer’s quality to compete for the starting spot would be no bad thing. The embarrassment of riches available to Pep Guardiola is a large part of the reason why his City side have been so dominant under the Spaniard.

The only concern for Palmer as a right winger could be his work-rate off the ball.

The Englishman is not one to shirk his defensive duties at Chelsea, but United’s current system asks plenty of their wingers with and without the ball, which is certainly not where Palmer’s strengths lie.

And would United really be keen to impinge upon Amad’s minutes and development to that extent, given the Ivorian is one of the club’s brightest talents and rare recruitment successes in recent years.

Back to a back five?

Ruben Amorim’s ill-fated stint at Old Trafford may not have many United fans keen to see the return of a five-back formation any time soon.

But the hypothetical arrival of Palmer could be the kind of signing that forces United to consider something radical to get the best out of all of their forward players.

While it would need another, more mobile midfielder to partner Kobbie Mainoo, a back-five would allow both Fernandes and Palmer to play in more central, advanced areas.

The formation would also ensure room and regular minutes for the pace and creativity of Amad and Patrick Dorgu down both flanks.

Mbeumo or Benjamin Sesko could lead the line, while Matheus Cunha has shown the ability to thrive in either role during his time at United and Wolves previously.

It would take a bold manager to return United to a back three, but if armed with Palmer, it might have a shot at being successful this time around.

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