Michael Essien believes Andreas Christensen could leave Chelsea

Former Chelsea star Michael Essien believes Andreas Christensen could end his association with the Blues when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year. The Denmark international has managed just one league appearance for the Blues since the appointment of Maurizio Sarri at the helm and this has recently intensified speculation regarding his future.

Speaking to The Express, Essien admitted that the Blues may be fearful regarding the potential departure of Christensen, who has already voiced his frustration at the limited gametime this season, he said: “Every player wants to play. Chelsea isn’t an easy place to come and the competition is very fierce. At the end of the day, all the players work but it’s the manager who will pick who he wants to play. ‘When you’re not playing you get frustrated and you want to look elsewhere.”

Christensen made his debut for the Blues during the previous campaign after impressing for Borussia Monchengladbach on a two-year loan deal. Thereafter, he managed a further 39 appearances for the club through the season and it appeared that he could become the leader of the Blues defence for years to come.

However, “that has simply not been the case under Sarri this season and he is currently regarded“ as a back-up option for the Premier League duties with Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz being the outright choices at the heart of the club’s defence. Despite this, the Blues are understood to have no plans to offload the Dane in the near future and it would certainly come as a surprise, if “the defender is permitted“ to make way from the club.

Aside from Rudiger and Luiz, the Blues have just two more senior central defenders in the form of Christensen and Gary Cahill. The latter’s position remains more feeble with his existing contract due to expire at the end of the season.