Reports are now stating that finishing in the European places could now be absolutely essential in keeping one of their best players.

Back-to-back big wins against London rivals Tottenham and West Ham United helped them move into the top seven at last after mid-table mediocrity brought a lot of pressure on to Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite it being the Argentine’s first campaign at the club and the fact that he is universally liked by the Chelsea squad, there are reports that his place in the hotseat could be vacant again soon.

After their 5-0 win at the weekend, it emerged that the owners were not content with a 7^th placed finish, and Europa League was instead the minimum requirement.

Making sure they are playing in Europe is key to the project at Stamford Bridge too, and keeping hold of their better players.

Arguably their top performer this season has been Cole Palmer, with him sitting on 21 Premier League goals so far already.

However, it has been reported by TuttoMercatoWeb that maintaining their status as a European club could be crucial in them keeping hold of him for the upcoming campaigns.

In just his first campaign at Stamford Bridge, he has instantly proven to be one of the best players in the Premier League already.

Palmer described as ‘world-class’

His teammates have been well aware of his brilliance, with Carney Chukwuemeka describing him as ‘world-class’ earlier this season.

The 21-year-old is no doubt going to play a key role in the club’s final three games this season, where it will be determined if they are playing in Europe next season or not.

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