Chelsea legend Michael Essien fears some top players at the club could leave due to limited playing time.

Centre-back Andreas Christensen, striker Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Gary Cahill, Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses, and teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi are all said to be reconsidering their future at Stamford Bridge due to limited opportunities.

Essien believes this situation could force the players out.

“Every player wants to play,” Essien told the Express.

“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.

“It’s up to them really but they have to keep working and then everyone gets their chance.”

Essien spent nine years with Chelsea between 2005 and 2014, winning the Uefa Champions League title with the Blues in 2012.