Gary Neville believes Cole Palmer would be an excellent signing for Manchester United, but he doesn't think the player will leave Chelsea this summer.
Towards the end of last season, there were persistent rumors that Palmer intended to leave Stamford Bridge, with reports at the time suggesting he was unhappy at Chelsea. The 24-year-old's form and fitness fluctuated in the first half of the season, but he still scored 10 Premier League goals for a Chelsea team that underperformed overall.
When transfer rumors circulated, both Manchester United and Manchester City were seen as potential destinations. Neville stated directly that if Palmer were to join his former club, his value would be comparable to classic signings of the past such as Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, and Roy Keane.
However, Neville believes this transfer is unlikely to happen, as Chelsea reportedly considers Palmer a non-transferable asset.
Neville said on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel: "When Manchester United signed Bryan Robson, Ron Atkinson once described the transfer as a surefire bargain, incredibly valuable. I think Kane joining Manchester United would be a similar top-tier signing. You move from Leeds United, Rooney leaves Everton to join, Keane moves to Manchester United – all these deals were excellent value for money.
Declan Rice's transfer to Arsenal was also like this. These types of players have guaranteed quality, and looking back, the transfer fees always seem very reasonable.
If Sir Alex Ferguson were still managing Manchester United, he would never have allowed Kane to go elsewhere; he would have done everything possible to bring him to Old Trafford, and he would have had the same attitude towards Declan Rice.
Signings are not just about whether they are homegrown players; Robin van Persie is another good example. He had already proven himself in the Premier League, and after joining, he would definitely provide immediate impact.
I also approve of the team's signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo last summer. Both have practical experience in the Premier League. They are not top-tier, sky-high transfers, but the risk is very low, their own ability is considerable, they are still young and ambitious, and they can upgrade the team's strength. This type of signing is inherently high quality.
Now, there's a lot of talk about Cole Palmer. In my opinion, if he joined Manchester United, it would definitely be an excellent deal. But I don't think it will happen; Chelsea will do everything to keep him. There are very few top potential players like him in football, and they only appear every few years."