The transfer fee required for Manchester United to sign Palmer has been revealed; Chelsea will only negotiate for 200 million! Injuries may influence the decision.

There have been numerous reports in the last week linking England midfielder Cole Palmer with Manchester United, yet obtaining him from Chelsea would be extremely expensive. The Spanish site "Fichajes" states that if the Red Devils genuinely desire this lifelong fan of the club, they need to propose a transfer fee of no less than 200 million euros (approximately £173 million) for Chelsea to consider talks.

Chelsea’s new coach Liam Rosenior insists Palmer is not for sale, so the asking price may even rise. His contract runs until 2033, giving the Blues full control. The sky-high price is primarily aimed at deterring Manchester United and other clubs from signing him. Of course, if a buyer offers such a high fee, Burnley wouldn’t mind cashing in to bring in other players.

Palmer has struggled this season at Chelsea, with rumors suggesting he misses Manchester and is not used to London’s pace of life. Since a return to Manchester City is not feasible, joining Manchester United to fulfill his "childhood Red Devils dream" is considered something Palmer might contemplate, as Old Trafford could provide him with a home-like atmosphere.

From a tactical standpoint, Manchester United may soon need to find a new central number 10. The 31-year-old Bruno Fernandes might leave within a year or two. Over many years, B. Fernandes has consistently delivered goals and assists for United, with an impressive attendance record. Excluding suspensions, he has never missed a Premier League game due to injury in his first four years at the club. In 152 matches, he was only sidelined for five games due to injury.

This "iron man" trait was initially seen in Palmer at Chelsea as well, but this season he has faced consecutive injuries. From the start of the season until early December, the 23-year-old England midfielder started just three matches. This includes the September away game at Manchester United, where he played only 21 minutes before being substituted due to injury.

By October, former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca decided not to use Palmer, allowing him to focus on recovery. Before Christmas, Palmer appeared revitalized, playing eight consecutive Premier League games, including two full matches. However, recently, Palmer has faced recurring issues. In the first five games under the new coach, he missed four. When fit, he still plays an important role, such as in the Champions League against Napoli, where he came off the bench and assisted João Pedro twice, helping Chelsea secure victory and progress.

Although recent absences were due to thigh and toe injuries, Palmer’s main problem this season stems from his groin area. Diagnosed with groin pain syndrome, a chronic condition affecting the groin and lower abdomen, this issue also troubles Barcelona’s Amrabat.

Experts say the injury may be caused by weaker muscles on one side of the groin, tendon irritation, or muscle imbalances leading to inflammation of the pelvis or pubic joint. It is a complex injury, and like Palmer’s intermittent season, this condition can seriously impact a player’s performance.

Because players constantly run, kick, tackle, turn, and jump on the pitch, these movements place heavy strain on the pelvis, causing friction and irritation. Although groin pain differs from a hamstring strain—which prevents running—players with groin pain can still move, albeit with discomfort that may worsen.

However, with proper game management and rehabilitation plans, this issue can be controlled. The key is to provide players with ample rest rather than surgery. Additionally, targeted treatment must address the root causes of groin pain, such as tendon damage, muscle imbalances, or joint problems.

Palmer’s injury risks will be crucial for Manchester United when deciding whether to sign him. Nearly 20 years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson signed defensive midfielder Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich. He helped United win the 2008 Premier League and Champions League double but was later nearly ruined by knee injuries. In 2020, ESPN ranked Hargreaves as the 27th worst signing in United’s Premier League history.

Later, Manchester United signed another midfielder with a pronounced "fragile" reputation, Dutch international Donny van de Beek. Therefore, the club is now highly attentive to players’ injury histories.