Chelsea see £35m offer turned down for Manchester City star with Guardiola demanding £50m

Chelsea have seen an opening offer for Manchester City youngster Cole Palmer rejected as they look to prise him away from the Etihad in the final days of the transfer window.

Seemingly handed a chance to stake a claim for a first-team spot in Manchester following the departure of Riyad Mahrez this summer, Palmer scored against Arsenal in the Community Shield final and netted again to help City win the Super Cup final courtesy of a penalty shoot-out against Sevilla.

However, the arrival of Jeremy Doku from Rennes in has pushed him back down the pecking order, and speaking after the win in Athens he explained that he wasn’t sure he would be staying in Manchester.

I have no idea; I just want to play football,” he said. “So whatever the best decision is when we speak together, that is what I will do. Obviously the best scenario is to stay at City and play but obviously you know what the competition is like, if they bring someone in – I don’t know.”

Now, Chelsea have come calling, and have already seen a £35m bid for the winger rejected, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding out for £50m. Chelsea are leaning on the suggestions of former Manchester City youth scout, who joined the Blues in 2022 and has played a huge role in signing Romeo Lavia this summer.

Palmer is another with close ties to Shields, and Manchester City are not thought to be ready to stand in his way should he wish to leave, with the clubs expected to reach an agreement at around £45m for the 21-year-old.

Should he arrive in the 72 hours remaining in the summer window, Palmer would be Chelsea’s 11th signing of the summer, and would take their spending over the £400m mark, by far the most in the Premier League.

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