The future of Cole Palmer and Chelsea’s other stars will not be compromised if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League next season as there is no break clause in any individual’s contract relating to participation in European competition, according to a report.

After an impressive start to the campaign under Enzo Maresca, the Blues have stumbled in recent weeks. Chelsea were as high as second place on Christmas Day, four points adrift of Liverpool, yet a defeat to Brighton on Friday saw the club tumble down to sixth place.

This sequence of two wins from nine league games has led to speculation surrounding the future of some standout players. Chelsea have dished out long-term contracts riddled with incentive clauses, but – despite fears to the contrary – there is no option for any player to secure a cut-price move in the event that the club misses out on Champions League qualification, according to Ben Jacobs.

Some clubs have informal agreements with players to sanction a cheaper deal based on their performance in the season. Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is thought to be one such star, with the Magpies reportedly willing to accept offers in the region of £83m for their talismanic forward if they fail to finish in the top four.

Chelsea haven’t baked European qualification into their players’ deals chiefly because they aren’t aiming that high. As Maresca revealed in an interview with Sky Sports last week: “The club asked to play Champions League in two years. If we are able to bring this club after one year, it will be fantastic.”

Beyond the futures of the players, Maresca’s position as manager has also been called into question. However, the club retain full faith in the Italian coach, who has been hampered by injury issues and still remains well placed to force Chelsea into the top four.