Club legend Marcel Desailly fears the worst over future of Cole Palmer

Marcel Desailly has suggested that Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer could look for an exit route from west London if he loses faith in the Premier League side's project.

The England international hit the ground running after arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 and has become one of the standouts of a squad bursting with young - but raw - talents.

But after an explosive first season, Palmer was a more muted presence in 2024-25 and has spent much of this season struggling with persistent injuries.

His most recent outing in a Chelsea shirt during the club's 2-0 win against Brentford last Saturday raised eyebrows among Blues fans, who noted that he failed to celebrate after scoring from the spot to net his side their second, and looked a shadow of his normally lighthearted self at full-time.

As speculation swirls around the potential meaning of his downcast display, Desailly gave the club's BlueCo ownership an ominous warning over what a player of his statue might demand to stay where he is.

'If Cole Palmer decides to move away from Chelsea then that’s his business, but I just want him to respect the club, because they are the ones who have given him the tools to become the player he is now,' Desailly told Card Player.

'I would love him to stay at Stamford Bridge because he’s got a key role in the team, even if (former manager) Enzo Maresca used him in various positions.

'I believe Palmer wants more stability and a system that’s built for him, but he still needs to fully recover from his groin injury and get back to full fitness. His recent performances speak for themselves, so he needs to stay humble and come back into the team to help the club, regardless of whether he stays or goes.'

But beyond Palmer working on his own fitness and personal game, the Chelsea legend stressed that the club's towering ambitions must be in part met.

Last season, ex-head coach Maresca helped the team secure a Champions League berth, but after appearing to challenge Arsenal for the top spot in November, the Blues have since endured a punishing winter.

Maresca then parted ways with the side in a shock exit on New Year's Day amid questions over the hands-on involvement of club hierarchy, which in turn served to make Chelsea look like a team mired in chaos.

Chelsea have since installed Liam Rosenior, but the manager will have a big task in delivering on the club's vow to challenge for major trophies.

'The question is whether he feel like Chelsea are going to win the Premier League in the next two seasons,' Desailly continued. 'If he doesn’t, I’m sure he will ask for a transfer request to a club that will build a system around him.

'For now, however, he needs to hit his previous levels for Chelsea to help them and their new manager through this period.'

Chelsea fans gathered ahead of the home match against Brentford to protest BlueCo and Maresca's departure, organised by a group called Not a Project CFC.

In a post on X, they wrote that the Blues are 'run less like an elite club and more like a player trading farm focused on churn, speculation, and long-term potential at the expense of present day competitiveness.'

They also accuse the BlueCo ownership, who have spent more than £1bn since they took over in 2022, of 'prioritising long-term potential while sacrificing the present.'