Merson told Sportskeeda: “Chelsea are struggling so badly at the moment. I look at them and they are missing Nicolas Jackson quite badly. Without him, I don’t see a real pattern of play. Jackson’s absence is also affecting Cole Palmer, who has to drop deeper now.”

Chelsea are reportedly at risk of losing a number of key players this summer if they fall short of Champions League qualification, with talisman Cole Palmer's future also in doubt

Enzo Maresca has already highlighted the key attribute that allows Cole Palmer to be great for Chelsea, though the Blues reportedly risk losing the playmaker this summer