A €110 MILLION BOMBSHELL! Chelsea under pressure: after Negredo’s statement, several sources confirm direct contact between Madrid and Palmer — but the player himself is said to have set an “impossible” condition.

European football is once again set ablaze by Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are reportedly preparing another blockbuster move, and this time their radar is locked on Chelsea’s star attacker, Cole Palmer. While transfer links between Madrid and English stars are nothing new, this situation has taken a dramatic turn — one that could reshape the upcoming transfer window.

It all began with a shocking claim from Álvaro Negredo, a respected former Spanish international, who casually dropped the line: “I saw Cole Palmer at Real Madrid.” The football world immediately went into chaos. Was he joking? Or had Negredo accidentally revealed one of Florentino Pérez’s secret masterplans?

Within hours, English tabloids and Spanish media began digging deeper. Reports started surfacing of a private dinner near Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s training base, on October 2nd. Among those in attendance were a British agent, a Madrid representative, and — allegedly — a “young, left-footed English player from Chelsea.” The description could only fit one man: Cole Palmer.

According to insider journalist Rafael Gómez, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez personally approved a quiet approach for the 23-year-old sensation. Despite Palmer’s release clause reportedly exceeding €120 million, Pérez believes the young Englishman “fits the identity of Madrid perfectly” and could be worth every cent. What once looked like gossip now appears to be a carefully orchestrated move.

Negredo’s comments on El Chiringuito only intensified the speculation. He praised Palmer’s intelligence and elegance, saying: “He has something Madrid loves — calmness, creativity, and the mentality of a world-class player. He reminds me of a young Kaká with Modric’s discipline.” Those words were enough to send Madrid fans into a frenzy.

Within hours, the hashtag #PalmerToMadrid was trending globally on X (formerly Twitter). Spanish fans were ecstatic at the thought of adding another English jewel alongside Bellingham, while Chelsea supporters were left anxious and furious. The Blues’ management reportedly held an emergency meeting the following morning to address the growing rumors.

An anonymous Chelsea insider revealed: “Cole Palmer is untouchable. He’s central to our sporting project, and losing him now would collapse our long-term vision.” But sources claim there’s a hidden clause in his contract that allows him to negotiate freely if an offer surpasses €115 million — a figure Madrid might be willing to meet as early as January.

However, there’s a twist — and it’s a big one. According to Relevo, Palmer has allegedly made a single, firm demand before entertaining talks: he wants to wear the number 10 shirt at Real Madrid. The problem? That number still belongs to Luka Modric, and as long as the Croatian legend remains under contract, Madrid consider that request “impossible.”

Despite that obstacle, whispers inside the Bernabéu suggest that patience might be key. “If Modric retires at the end of the season, the door opens completely,” said a senior Madrid source. “Palmer is young. He can wait. When he comes, he’ll come to lead.”

Behind the scenes, Real Madrid’s dream is becoming clearer: a new attacking trio of Bellingham, Vinícius, and Palmer — a generation poised to succeed the Mbappé era before it even begins. Reports from England claim a Madrid representative has already scheduled a London–Barajas private flight in mid-December, officially for “administrative matters,” though everyone suspects the real purpose.

As Chelsea stays silent and Madrid moves strategically in the shadows, the tension grows by the day. Could this be Florentino Pérez’s next great coup? Or will Palmer’s “impossible condition” block what could have been the transfer of the year?

One thing is certain: the machine has already started, and Negredo’s words may have only accelerated what was bound to come — another winter transfer storm, designed and executed the Madrid way. ⚡