Cole Palmer's stance on which Manchester United player he would want to play with can be traced back to a comment he posted on Instagram back in the summer.
Palmer came through the ranks at Manchester City and went on to play 41 times prior to sealing a £42.5 million to Chelsea and being given a new lease of life at Stamford Bridge.
The England international quickly developed into Chelsea's talisman and played a starring role in their UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs under Enzo Maresca.
The 23-year-old is on a long-term contract at Chelsea until 2033 but he continues to be linked with United, his boyhood club who he grew up supporting.
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One report from The Guardian stated that Palmer had become 'homesick' in London and was open to moving back to the North by signing for United.
Such a deal would be complicated to pull off but if it was to come to fruition, there appears to be one player Palmer would relish the chance to play alongside the most.
He has represented England alongside Kobbie Mainoo, a fellow Greater Manchester talent.
In the summer, having fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim at United, Mainoo was heavily courted by Chelsea and linked a switch.
No move materialised and Mainoo stayed put. But after the transfer deadline shut, Palmer came up with a cryptic reply to Mainoo's Instagram post, writing, "3 my guy".
Palmer and Mainoo are friends away from the pitch and starred in a photoshoot for GQ back in November 2024 as part of their 'Men of the Year'.
The midfielder has been back to his usual self under Michael Carrick, starting three games in a row as United beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham.
What has Liam Rosenior said about Cole Palmer?
Palmer was a substitute for Chelsea's most recent game, a limp 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, and was seen walking away from the ground on his own instead of being with the rest of the squad.
But while there has been speculation surrounding his future, new boss Liam Rosenior categorically denied that Palmer is unhappy.
Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash with Napoli, Rosenior said: "I'm not surprised at the timing. 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.
"There's no reason for assurance. 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 speculation is so far from the truth."
Topics: Cole Palmer, Manchester United, Chelsea
Josh Lawless