Manchester City ready to sell five stars to fund €250m bid for Cole Palmer’s return

Chelsea sets record-breaking price as Guardiola eyes reunion with former academy jewel

Manchester City are preparing to offload five key players to meet Chelsea’s €250 million asking price for Cole Palmer, in what would be the most expensive transfer in football history. The 22-year-old winger left the Etihad for Stamford Bridge in 2023, but his rapid rise has prompted Pep Guardiola to push for a sensational return.

Chelsea’s Historic Price Tag

City initially tested Chelsea’s resolve with a €145 million bid earlier this year — an offer that would have already broken the club’s transfer record. But according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Blues made it clear they would only consider a deal worth €250 million, surpassing Neymar’s €222 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

Financial Fair Play Forces Big Sales

Meeting that valuation would require City to sell multiple first-team players to comply with Financial Fair Play rules. Club insiders suggest that names like Ederson and Jack Grealish could be made available, although both have seen their market value decline compared to previous seasons.

Failure to balance the books could lead to Premier League sanctions, including a possible transfer ban, making player sales the only viable route to fund Palmer’s return.

The Emotional Hurdle

Beyond the financial challenge, City would also need to convince Palmer to leave Chelsea, the club that gave him a starring role after his departure from Manchester. Such a move would likely require another lucrative personal offer to persuade him to rejoin Guardiola’s squad.

From Prospect to Superstar

Chelsea signed Palmer from City in 2023 for €47 million, when he was still seen as a promising youngster. Since then, he has developed into one of the Premier League’s most influential attackers, making City’s decision to sell him appear increasingly costly and fueling their determination to bring him back at any price.