Chelsea Boss Rosenior Rules Out Palmer Exit Amid Napoli Preview

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Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior dismissed reports of Cole Palmer joining Manchester United as unrealistic and pointless, while stressing full focus on the Champions League trip to Napoli, where victory at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona will confirm a top-eight place for Chelsea in this season’s group standings.

The build-up to the match in Naples has centred on claims that Palmer is unsettled at Stamford Bridge and interested in leaving, with Old Trafford mentioned because Palmer supported Manchester United as a child, yet Rosenior underlined that Chelsea’s preparation and plans remain fixed on the Champions League challenge.

Rosenior firmly pushed back on the transfer talk, describing the links as baseless and out of nowhere, while also stressing that Palmer is content at Chelsea and engaged with the work under the new head coach during what Rosenior sees as an important stage for the whole squad this season.

"There's no reason for assurance, he said. It's so unrealistic. It's come from nowhere. There's nothing in it. There's no reason to have the conversation. That's where I'm at. Cole is very happy. I've had numerous conversations with him. Our thoughts are on how we can make this team better, how he can improve and how I can help him. He loves being here, and he wants to be a Chelsea player. You can't stop speculation, but some of it is so far from the truth. There's no point in having a discussion about it."

Palmer delivered 26 goal contributions in 46 games across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign, but this season has been more difficult, with the England international restricted by minor injuries to 19 appearances, eight goals and two assists for Chelsea in all competitions so far.

The forward did not feature in the squad for the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, yet has travelled with Chelsea to Italy, where Rosenior will look to extend a strong start, having won four of five matches since replacing Enzo Maresca, including an efficient first European outing in charge.

In that previous Champions League match, against Pafos, Chelsea completed 94.5% of their passes, which is the highest passing accuracy recorded by any team in this season’s competition, underlining the controlled possession style that Rosenior is trying to establish during the early weeks of the tenure.

Chelsea now meet a Napoli side sitting 25th in the 36-team Champions League standings, with Antonio Conte’s team needing a win to stay in contention for the play-off round, and arriving from a 3-0 Serie A defeat against Juventus that increased scrutiny but did not damage their strong home record in Europe.

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Napoli have lost only one of their last 20 home Champions League matches, with 12 wins and seven draws, that single defeat coming 3-2 against Real Madrid in October 2023, and overall they have been beaten in just four of 33 home fixtures in the competition since 1992-93.

"This is a very strong team, said Rosenior. I think it would have been unfortunate in the recent games they played. The results haven't followed the performances that Antonio's team have given. We know it's going to be a very difficult game in a very special atmosphere. It doesn't change my plans at all because I've been planning for a very difficult game."

Questions about player futures have nevertheless followed Rosenior’s arrival, yet the head coach views the timing as predictable rather than meaningful, stressing that the squad is united and that Palmer, in particular, remains an important figure who is eager to return to the pitch and help Chelsea’s season.

"I'm not surprised at the timing, Rosenior said. A new manager comes in and all of a sudden there's people unsettled. It's not true. Cole's here, he's very happy, and I can't wait to see him back on the pitch."