Joe Cole says ‘frustrated’ Chelsea star could leave amid Man Utd transfer links

Joe Cole fears Chelsea’s malaise could lead to some high-profile departures ahead of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea enjoyed a largely promising campaign last season under former boss Enzo Maresca, winning the Club World Cup and Conference League while qualifying for the Champions League.

But Maresca departed Stamford Bridge in January following a run of underwhelming performances and a fall-out with his bosses.

Liam Rosenior’s reign started brightly but Chelsea have struggled over the past two months, losing to London rivals Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and winning just one of their last six league games.

That poor run of form has seen Chelsea slip to sixth in the Premier League, six points outside the top-four places, with seven games remaining.

To make matters worse Chelsea also suffered an embarrassing Champions League defeat to PSG, losing 8-2 on aggregate after being outplayed by the French champions.

Cole is reluctant to blame Rosenior for Chelsea’s struggles, however, and believes the issues go back to the owners who purchased the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022.

Chelsea have spent over £1billion on players since the takeover but Cole has accused the owners of running the club ‘like a business’ rather than a football team capable of competing for major trophies.

As a result Cole believes Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are ‘streets ahead’ of Chelsea and says players will get increasingly ‘frustrated’ and start seeking moves away from west London.

Club-record signing Enzo Fernandez has already opened the door to a summer move and Cole is also concerned Cole Palmer may be questioning his long-term future at the club.

Palmer has been one of the most exciting players in the Premier League since his £40m move from Manchester City in 2023, scoring 46 goals and providing 20 assists.

But the 23-year-old has been linked with a move away from Chelsea, with Manchester United reportedly keeping tabs on his situation.

‘You can say what you like about the Roman Abramovich era but it was built with one thing in mind and that was to win trophies,’ Cole said on The Dressing Room podcast.

‘It was pitch from the football pitch outwards. Under Roman Chelsea wanted the best managers we could get and the best players we could get. The idea was to try and win every game and win every trophy.

‘When that didn’t happen we’re going to change the manager, which can be chaotic, and we’re going to change players. We’re selling them if we have to.

‘You all knew what was going on, right? Now the new ownership group has come in and they spent a lot of money initially, wasted a lot of money, in my opinion, on not getting the right players in through the door.”

‘Over £1billion has been spent on the premise that these lads will develop and become players, and some of them will become great players.

‘But the Chelsea fans are upset because they don’t feel like they’re competing, and they’re not really.

‘You’re not buying players to win games of football, you’re buying players as an asset and I don’t think that ever works.

‘You’re running the club like a business and the fans know when they’re being lied to, they know when they’re effectively being duped. 

‘Do you know what I mean? If the owners come out and say we’re going to buy younger players and balance the books and if it [success] happens it happens.

‘The fans won’t like it, but at least it’s honest. But Chelsea are not trying to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal, because you can’t. How can they compete with these signings? They can’t. Man City and Arsenal are streets ahead at the moment.’

Asked about players potentially looking elsewhere given the situation at Chelsea, Cole added: ‘They’re frustrated. And you get into that position now, where the best players are going to start going…

‘If you’re Cole Palmer you’re thinking, I could go and play anywhere in the world. Like, what’s happening here? Do you know what I mean?’

Chelsea suffered a demoralising 3-0 defeat at Everton last time out and return to action after the international break with a FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale.

Rosenior’s side then face new Carabao Cup winners Manchester City and their local rivals Manchester United in back-to-back Premier League games.

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