Watford legend, Troy Deeney says Chelsea may find it hard to keep Cole Palmer happy at the club if they don’t qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea have dropped from the Champions League qualification places (Premier League top-four).
This follows their Premier League 3-0 defeat to Brighton over the weekend.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has repeatedly dismissed the notion that the Blues could challenge for the Premier League title this season.
But speaking to talkSPORT, Deeney said:
‘‘With Chelsea, they have spent a billion pounds – what are we talking about? This is not a rebuild.
“They’re a billion-pound team that is still Cole Palmer or nothing.
“Give it to Cole Palmer and if he’s good, we’re good. When a manager is so blind to it and making excuses the players just eat that up.
“I think there is a problem brewing with that – if you don’t get Champions League how are you going to keep him happy?”
Palmer has scored 14 goals and provided six assists in 25 league games this season for Maresca’s side.