Borussia Dortmund target move to Manchester City forward amid Pep Guardiola demands on future

Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund could be set for transfer talks with for a second successive summer with the long-term future of Cole Palmer in doubt.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a successful rise in prominence along with form throughout this summer for both club and country, following a somewhat disappointing turn last campaign in terms of game time for Manchester City.

Only making 14 appearances, Cole Palmer became somewhat of a fringe player in what was to be a memorable campaign for Pep Guardiola’s side as they went on to claim a historic treble including their maiden Champions League victory.

Yet, the Manchester City academy product has come into his own in recent months, firstly playing a starring role in England’s UEFA European Under-21 Championship victory in Georgia and Romania with his free-kick directly leading to the winner in the final against Spain.

Bolstered by his fine international form, the winger then went on to score crucial goals in both the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup during August, helping Manchester City to a famous win in the latter ensuring the club’s third European title overall.

Despite this, it still remains unclear if Cole Palmer will play a part in Manchester City’s defence of their treble this season, having played only ten minutes of Premier League action so far.

City’s expected imminent signing of fellow winger Jeremy Doku from Rennes will only act to push the young English attacker down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, with the incoming explosive Belgian clearly the priority.

Borussia Dortmund are now set to challenge for Cole Palmer’s signature in the closing weeks of the summer transfer window, according to the information of SPORT1’s Patrick Berger, who claims that the Bundesliga side are very interested in the Mancunian.

Berger posted on social media platform X in recent days, “BVB very interested in signing Cole Palmer from Man City. Direct talks between clubs. But he could be too expensive.

The German reporter then referred to comments made by Pep Guardiola, in a very telling update from the Manchester City boss, “I don’t know what’s going to happen. He (Cole Palmer) is going stay or we’re going to sell, but I think a loan is not going to happen.”

Recent business between the two clubs includes Borussia Dortmund selling prized striking asset Erling Haaland to the Premier League champions last summer, as well as defender Manuel Akanji, with both playing a significant role in securing the English club the treble.

This would not be the first time that die Schwarzgelben have poached a young talent from Manchester City though either, with previous signings of Jadon Sancho in 2017 and Jayden Braaf in 2022 showing BVB have form for such a deal.

Since making his debut for Manchester City’s first team in 2020, Cole Palmer has gone onto make 41 senior appearances, scoring six goals and assisting two, whilst also commanding interest from the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion as well as West Ham United in the Premier League.