Cole Palmer has a release clause in his contract if Chelsea fail to meet their main target  

Chelsea could be forced to consider offers for Cole Palmer due to a clause in his contract that will become active if they fail to secure a Champions League place, according to TEAMtalk.  

The Blues had a strong season under new coach Enzo Maresca, but their progress has stalled due to a recent poor run of form.  

Chelsea are currently sixth in the Premier League, behind Bournemouth in fifth on goal difference, with a top-five finish likely to be enough to secure next season's Champions League.  

Maresca has stated that qualifying for the UCL this season was not a target he had been given, but media reports suggest that the Chelsea board absolutely expect the team to be part of the competition next season.  

If Chelsea fail to qualify for the Champions League, several players, including Palmer, could be forced to reconsider their futures.  

Read too Maresca adds three players to Conference League roster

The release clause in Palmer's contract means Chelsea must accept offers if they lose out on Europe's elite competition.Telegraph/