Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has admitted that Cole Palmer reminds him of Steven Gerrard and believes that Chelsea may struggle to retain the England international if they fail to secure Champions League qualification.
The Blues ran out 4-1 winners over Djurgarden in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday night, but their form in the Premier League has been immensely concerning since Christmas.
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Enzo Maresca’s side have only picked up 25 points from a possible 51 since Christmas Day, and they need a fantastic end to the campaign in order to finish in the top five and book their place in next season’s Champions League.
Palmer is without a goal in his last 18 appearances across all competitions, but Carragher believes Chelsea may be forced to sell the 22-year-old if Champions League qualification slips through their grasp.
The England star still has eight years remaining on his current contract at Stamford Bridge, however Carragher has warned Maresca that Premier League clubs will attempt to poach Palmer soon.
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What has Jamie Carragher said?
“Palmer has played only 183 minutes of Champions League football in his career,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“That is worryingly low for a player of his calibre on the eve of his 23rd birthday. He knows that he is too good to be watching rather than playing in the Champions League. Chelsea must start satisfying his ambitions to take on Europe’s best, otherwise he will start asking himself how and when they will. Then it will only be a matter of time before rival clubs try to sign him.
“There was a moment during Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion in February which must have set off alarm bells in the Stamford Bridge boardroom. Palmer’s demeanour was one of frustration.
“It reminded me of Steven Gerrard during the more difficult periods at Liverpool, where he was looking around the pitch and realising team-mates were not at the required level.
“Gerrard started to ask himself if he was at the right club, prompting Chelsea to try to sign him in three successive summers between 2003-2005. On two occasions they were very close to doing the deal.”
Carragher added: “The reason the transfer nearly happened was because world-class players can only tolerate mediocrity for so long. Careers are short, and those with ambition who feel their talent is unfulfilled cannot stand waiting.
“They are not interested in hearing about ‘long-term’ projects. They make their judgment at the end of every season whether they need to move on…
“Only the most naive will believe that the top-class players in Chelsea’s squad will be happy playing Europa League football next year. That makes them vulnerable to unrest.”
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