Manchester United have been backed this summer to sign Cole Palmer from Chelsea, who is now missing from the squad for their pre-season friendly against Juventus

Cole Palmer has confirmed that he is not playing for Chelsea in their pre-season friendly against Juventus due to a minor injury.

Palmer, 24, missed their open training session on Tuesday and instead trained individually away from the squad. The former Manchester City player featured in their first two friendlies, both in the Sydney Super Cup, so far this summer.

He came on as a substitute and assisted one of their six goals in Xabi Alonso's first game, a 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. Palmer then started and played 80 minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the England international is a notable absence from the squad for their match in Hong Kong against Juventus. Palmer, speaking pitchside at Kai Tak Stadium, said: "I'm disappointed not to play due to a slight issue, but I love Hong Kong; amazing support."

Our colleagues at football.london understand that the decision is a precautionary measure taken by the Blues. Chelsea are due to play two games this weekend.

The first is against Milan in Indonesia on Saturday, before facing Johor Darul Ta'zim the following day in Malaysia. They will then host Real Sociedad a week before the Premier League season starts.

The former Chelsea player William Gallas has said this summer that the Wythenshawe-born player will return to Manchester with United one day if he wants to. He told iPredicta: "I don't think Cole Palmer will go right now, I don't think it's time to go right now.

"He will definitely go to Manchester United in the future if he's a big fan. If he's got a dream to play for Man United, he will definitely go there.

"But right now I don't think so. I think he needs to have one more big season as he did two years ago, before he got his injury problem, then he might move."

Andrey Santos only fuelled speculation about his former team-mate joining him at Old Trafford one day. Speaking after signing for United, the Brazil international said of Palmer: "I got a message from Cole.

"He sent a message because he was born here [Manchester], so he knows everything here. He said all the best for you, for your career, you deserve this, a lot of things.