Former Chelsea right-back Glen Johnson has warned that any player unable to secure a regular starting spot at Stamford Bridge will be put up for sale this summer, as the club endures a miserable campaign. The Blues are currently on a run of six consecutive Premier League defeats, and while they still have the FA Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to, the season has been one to forget.
Struggles on the Pitch
Early in the season, there were whispers of a title challenge in west London, but since February, Chelsea have collected fewer points than relegation-threatened Tottenham. The team has scored just one goal in their last six matches, a sensational bicycle kick from Joao Pedro, who is one of the few players to emerge with any credit during this rotten run.
With a new permanent head coach expected to be appointed at the end of the season, another summer of squad upheaval is anticipated. Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella have raised doubts over their long-term futures during Liam Rosenior's final weeks in charge, while Cole Palmer remains persistently linked with a move to Manchester United.
Johnson's Warning
While Johnson believes the club will hold onto their most prized assets, he warns that anyone not consistently starting for the club faces being moved on. 'Anyone not getting in the team is up for sale,' Johnson told Metro via BetMGM. 'The team is struggling badly, if you are the person who can't get in that team, where do you go from there? If they are not good enough to get into a struggling team, then they are not good enough to ever get in the team. You need to rebuild the back-up to push the starting XI and that's how you improve. If you haven't got adequate back up, it's all downhill.'
Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap, who arrived at the club last summer from Manchester United and Ipswich Town respectively, are two players who have struggled to force their way into the side. Reports suggest the club will listen to offers for both.
Cole Palmer's Form
Cole Palmer missed a penalty on Monday against Nottingham Forest as his underwhelming campaign continued. The former Manchester City starlet had a spell out of the team due to a troublesome groin injury, missing most of the first half of the season. Johnson believes the England international is still feeling the effects of that issue, which too often limits him to '6/10' performances.
'It is a testing time for Palmer,' Johnson said. 'Credit to him for playing through this injury when he's called upon, but at the same time, you have to perform. 90 per cent of footballers are playing with a knock, very rarely are you playing at 100 per cent. He's trying to get out there and play for his team, but at the same time he needs to look after himself so he can get back to the level which will help the team. Sometimes having a few weeks out can help the team out more than a 6/10 out of Cole Palmer.'
As the season draws to a close, Chelsea face a crucial summer of decisions that could reshape the squad for years to come.
