‎Man Utd Linked With Shock Cole Palmer Move If Pochettino Is Appointed Permanent Boss

‎Manchester United have been encouraged to consider a move for Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer should they decide to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their next permanent manager. The winger, a boyhood United fan, previously worked under Pochettino in west London and has been linked with a potential reunion if the Argentine returns to the Premier League.

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‎Manchester United may have a chance to sign Chelsea star Cole Palmer if they appoint Mauricio Pochettino, with Rene Meulensteen questioning past missed opportunities.

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‎The search for a new manager at Old Trafford is ongoing after Ruben Amorim was dismissed on January 5. Amorim’s departure followed persistent struggles for consistency, prompting the club to place Darren Fletcher in temporary charge before handing responsibilities to interim head coach Michael Carrick.

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‎United are expected to make a full-time managerial appointment in the summer, with a wide range of candidates already under consideration. Names such as Oliver Glasner, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate and Luis Enrique have all been mentioned, but Pochettino remains an appealing option due to his deep understanding of English football.

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‎Currently, Pochettino is leading the United States men’s national team as they build towards hosting the World Cup. His deal is set to expire after that campaign, which could pave the way for a return to club management. Should United make their move, it has been suggested that he could attempt to bring Palmer with him to Manchester.

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‎Palmer, who grew up supporting United, joined Chelsea while Pochettino was in charge at Stamford Bridge. Former United assistant Rene Meulensteen believes the attacking midfielder would be an excellent fit at Old Trafford, though he stressed that Chelsea would ultimately need to sanction any transfer.

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‎In comments to Casinostugan, Meulensteen described Palmer as a decisive player who could thrive in United’s system. He also outlined the tactical challenges of fitting him into the side, particularly given competition on the right flank and Bruno Fernandes’ central role.

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‎Meulensteen admitted he finds it puzzling that United never explored signing Palmer earlier in his career, especially if the player was open to leaving Manchester City. He described that missed opportunity as “very strange,” given Palmer’s known allegiance to the club.

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‎Beyond the Palmer discussion, Meulensteen assessed other managerial candidates linked with United. He raised doubts over Zinedine Zidane, citing language barriers and concerns over whether United could meet the former Real Madrid boss’s expectations given the current squad and financial limitations.

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‎Xavi, however, was viewed more favourably. Meulensteen argued that a lack of Premier League experience should not automatically rule him out, pointing to recent examples of managers who have succeeded in England by clearly implementing their footballing philosophy.

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‎Despite those opinions, United are believed to favour candidates with direct experience of English football, which could diminish the chances of both Xavi and Zidane. Meanwhile, any move for Palmer appears unlikely in the short term, with Chelsea holding a strong position and United enduring a difficult 2025–26 season that has marked a 111-year low in the number of matches played during a single trophy pursuit.