Paul Scholes wonders why Man Utd overlooked the opportunity to sign a 'brilliant' Chelsea star

Paul Scholes has expressed disbelief at how Manchester United let Cole Palmer slip through their fingers, after the young talent left Manchester City to sign with Chelsea.

Despite being highly-rated at the Etihad Stadium and representing England throughout the age levels, Palmer was sold in the summer of 2023 due to the extreme competition at the club.

Spending £40m on a largely unproven player raised eyebrows but Chelsea’s deal has turned out to be an absolute masterstroke, with Palmer quickly establishing himself as one of the best players in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old, who is contracted to Chelsea until 2033, scored 25 goals last season and already has 12 goal involvements in 11 games this term.

Palmer has also become a regular for England, featuring for the Three Lions at Euro 2024 last summer and coming off the bench to score in the final against Spain.

Ex-Manchester United and England midfielder Scholes has heaped praise on Palmer, insisting he ‘has everything’, and questioned why his former club did not poach him from Man City.

‘Cole Palmer’s been brilliant, hasn’t he? I think he’s brilliant,’ the Old Trafford legend and 11-time Premier League winner said on The Overlap.

‘He’s a big United fan as well. How did we miss him? We wouldn’t be 14th in the league if he’d come!

‘Cole Palmer is a brilliant player – talent, goals, assists – he’s got everything.’

Palmer’s impressive form has helped Chelsea make a promising start to the 2024-25 campaign, with the Blues currently fifth in the Premier League and top of the Europa Conference League under new boss Enzo Maresca.

Scholes’ ex-club Manchester United, meanwhile, are just 14th in the English top-flight and sacked Erik ten Hag earlier in the week.

On Friday, United confirmed Ruben Amorim as their new manager from November 11 onwards but Scholes the Portuguese’s appointment ‘feels like Ten Hag’ all over again.

Scholes even revealed he wishes Manchester United had given Thomas Tuchel the job before he was snapped up by England to be Gareth Southgate’s replacement.

‘I think Thomas Tuchel was the right one to coach Manchester United, but obviously he’s gone now with England,’ Scholes said.

‘He’s someone that can manage an elite football club and win big games. He’s been there and done it.

‘On Ruben Amorim – [the hype] feels a bit like Erik ten Hag [joined Manchester United]. He’s coming from the Portuguese league which is a bit better than the Dutch league.

‘What he’s done there has been good – he looks charismatic, and he has a bit about him.

‘I know he’s meant to sign in the coming days and hours, but Sporting play Manchester City next week, and Arsenal in the next three or four weeks.

‘It might be a chance to give him a public interview and see how he handles the media, see how his team plays.’

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