Cole Palmer appears to have given his seal of approval to Chelsea’s pursuit of former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka, as new manager Xabi Alonso looks to reshape his midfield. The Blues are reportedly in discussions to bring the Switzerland international back to London from Sunderland in a move that would prioritise experience over youth.

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has insisted he is "not crying" over his shock omission from Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad following a challenging, injury-hit campaign. The 24-year-old is instead shifting his focus entirely toward a rare, head-clearing summer break in Ibiza to fully recharge ahead of the new season.

England fans have seen Cole Palmer produce the goods for the national team before. Indeed, he almost saved an otherwise poor performance in the Euro 2024 final, scoring an equalising goal and providing a spark when the Three Lions looked dead in the water against Spain. They did, of course, still go on to lose that game, as they have done at countless tournaments over the years.

Cole Palmer has taken to social media to provide a glimpse into his life away from the pitch after being left out of England's squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Chelsea playmaker, who was one of the go-to stars for the Three Lions over the last year, is instead using the summer to recharge his batteries following a demanding domestic campaign.

The 2026 World Cup is almost here. After years of build-up, dramatic qualifiers and numerous good - and bad - news stories surrounding FIFA's flagship finals, players and coaches from around the world are completing their last preparations after descending on the United States, Mexico and Canada for the biggest international football tournament to ever have been staged.