Man Utd rule out Cole Palmer transfer, prioritise Casemiro replacement
Manchester United have formally ruled out a summer move for Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, deciding the transfer would be financially unviable and instead prioritising the search for a successor to departing midfielder Casemiro. According to The Mirror, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and CEO Omar Berrada held high-level talks and concluded Palmer would likely command a British record fee Chelsea are unlikely to accept.
United believe the attack is not the area most in need of urgent investment after a combined £135 million outlay on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, and the club is focused on consolidating the current forward line and retaining captain Bruno Fernandes — prepared to spend 'whatever it takes' to extend his deal.
With Palmer off the table, United's recruitment has shifted to the midfield pivot left vacant by Casemiro's confirmed summer exit. The club has drawn up a shortlist that reportedly includes Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Brighton's Carlos Baleba, targeting dynamic, high-ceiling talent already proving themselves in the Premier League.
United are proceeding cautiously because all three midfield targets would demand significant fees, and the club is aiming to avoid bidding wars while adhering to stricter financial discipline. The stated strategy is to allocate the bulk of the summer budget to the player who will define the team's structure for the next five years rather than spending on another marquee forward.
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