'We'll see if Cole is happy or not happy' - Enzo Maresca speaks out on Palmer's future at Chelsea as Blues battle to secure Champions League spot

Once sitting comfortably in second place as recently as December, Chelsea have since endured a worrying slide down the table. Now positioned in seventh, the Blues are part of an incredibly tight race for European qualification, with only seven points separating third from tenth in the standings.

Amid Chelsea’s struggles, Palmer has looked increasingly frustrated, prompting speculation about whether he will remain at the club if they fail to finish in the top four. Moreover, the English star has also been experiencing one of his toughest spells since joining the club. He has failed to find the back of the net in his last five Premier League appearances and has not registered an assist since early December.

Despite the growing uncertainty, Maresca remains confident that his players, including Palmer, are fully committed to Chelsea’s long-term project.

"First of all we need to see how we finish,” the manager told reporters. “And then in case we don't finish in the top four we'll see if Cole is happy or not happy.

“I don't think that Cole is worried in this moment about next year that he wants to play in the Champions League. Cole is just focused on how he can help the team, how we can help him and how all together, we can bring this club where this club has to be.”

Maresca also defended Palmer's poor output in front of goal and insisted that Chelsea’s reliance on him must be reduced.

“When things are not going well for him, he trains even harder. Absolutely. I love that," he said. "I will tell you one detail that is very important. Every six or seven months we do a physical test. We did it in pre-season. We did it last week. And he was, of all the squad, the strongest one, the one that ‘won’ the test. And it was a physical test. That shows his desire is not only on the ball. He is working hard. He is showing his desire. He is doing fantastic.

“But because everyone is relying on Cole, people see in Cole always the solution. But the solution has to be the team.”

With just nine points collected from their last ten Premier League matches, Chelsea are in dire need of a turnaround. Their next opportunity comes on Tuesday night when they host Southampton at Stamford Bridge. A victory could provide the spark needed to revive their faltering campaign, but if their poor form continues, speculation over Palmer’s future—and Chelsea’s Champions League hopes—will only intensify.