Cole Palmer does not have a release clause which activates if Chelsea miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League, according to reports.
Chelsea currently sit sixth in the Premier League and just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
The Premier League is in line to be rewarded with an extra Champions League place this season because of the impressive performances from English clubs in Europe so far.
However, there is cause for concern that Chelsea could finish outside the top five as Enzo Maresca’s side have only registered two wins in their last nine Premier League fixtures.
Earlier this week, reports claimed that Palmer’s contract includes a clause could force Chelsea to consider offers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
However, MailOnline reports that no such clause exists in Palmer’s deal which he signed at the start of the campaign and keeps him tied to Stamford Bridge for the next nine years.
The report adds that Chelsea also have no intention of selling Palmer in the summer transfer window.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton last Friday, Jamie Carragher questioned how long Palmer would be prepared to stay at Stamford Bridge without playing in Europe’s elite competition.
‘If they don’t get Champions League, it will be a disaster,’ said Carragher.
‘The one thing I took from this game is not just how poor they were but the frustration from Palmer.
‘He won’t wait around for this idea that in a couple of years, we will make the Champions League.
‘The idea that this project is going to take two or three years, the problem is that the best players won’t wait for that.
‘Cole Palmer is one of the best players in the Premier League. You could start to feel the frustration starting to build. He’s good enough to be competing for the biggest honours in the Premier League and Champions League.
‘He’s scored in a Euro final. That is something that Chelsea need to keep in the back of their mind.
‘The idea that it could be five or 10 years – it’s nonsense. Nottingham Forest are third and Chelsea have spent over £1 billion.’
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