‎'Very Strange': Man United Urged to Target Cole Palmer If Pochettino Returns to Old Trafford

‎Manchester United have been tipped to finally make a move for lifelong Red Devils supporter Cole Palmer should they succeed in tempting Mauricio Pochettino back to England. The Argentine coach, who previously managed the Chelsea star, is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team but remains firmly on United’s radar as the club searches for a new permanent manager.

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‎Manchester United could finally land boyhood fan Cole Palmer if they appoint Chelsea’s former boss Mauricio Pochettino, with Rene Meulensteen weighing in on managerial and transfer options.

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‎Old Trafford is preparing for a long-term appointment following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this month. Amorim was dismissed on January 5 after continued inconsistency on and off the pitch. Darren Fletcher initially took charge on a caretaker basis before Michael Carrick stepped in as interim boss.

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‎The club’s hierarchy are expected to settle on a permanent successor during the summer. Several high-profile names have already been linked with the role, including Oliver Glasner, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate and Luis Enrique. However, attention has also turned to Pochettino, a manager with extensive Premier League experience from spells at Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea.

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‎Pochettino is currently focused on preparing the USMNT for a home World Cup, though his contract is due to expire once that tournament concludes. A return to Old Trafford could become a realistic option, and it has been suggested that he may attempt to bring Cole Palmer with him. The Wythenshawe-born attacker, a known United supporter, moved to Chelsea during Pochettino’s time at Stamford Bridge.

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‎Former United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen believes such a move would only be possible if Chelsea were open to negotiations. Speaking to Casinostugan, Meulensteen praised Palmer’s qualities and suitability for United’s style of play, describing him as a player capable of making the difference at the highest level.

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‎Meulensteen also highlighted potential tactical considerations, noting Palmer’s tendency to drift inside from the right and how that would need to be balanced with options such as Amad Diallo or Bryan Mbeumo, while Bruno Fernandes continues to operate centrally. He admitted surprise that United never previously explored the possibility of signing Palmer, especially given his affection for the club.

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‎In addition to discussing Palmer, Meulensteen assessed other managerial candidates linked with United, including Xavi and Zinedine Zidane. He questioned whether Zidane’s lack of English language skills and his experience of working with elite squads at Real Madrid would translate effectively to the current United setup.

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‎Meulensteen suggested that Xavi may represent a more logical option, pointing to recent Premier League success stories involving managers without prior experience in England, such as Glasner and Andoni Iraola, who arrived with clear tactical identities.

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‎Despite the speculation, United appear likely to prioritise coaches with experience of English football, which could rule out both Xavi and Zidane. There is also little expectation that Chelsea would allow Palmer to leave in the near future, particularly as United endure a historically difficult 2025–26 season that has seen them reach a 111-year low in matches played during a single trophy-chasing campaign.