'I think': Ray Parlour predicts whether Chelsea could win the Premier League title next season

The Blues have won four consecutive Premier League matches to climb up to sixth in the division table. In fact, they’ll make sure of qualification for European football if they avoid defeat at home to Bournemouth this Sunday on the final day of the season.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino can certainly silence some of his critics if his Chelsea side finish the campaign with five straight wins.

What should be the club’s ambition going into next season, though?

Ray Parlour predicts what next season will be like for Chelsea

TalkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour is confident that Chelsea can push themselves up into the top-four scene in the league next season.

However, he doesn’t think the Blues squad is ready yet to compete for the title.

Parlour said on talkSPORT (9:23am 17 May): “From Chelsea’s point of view, it’s top-four again. That’s our next step. And they have had a really good end to the season. They are certainly improving. All they have got to do is keep improving as a team.

“I think they will be better next season. Definitely. So, top-four for me is definitely doable for Chelsea next year. Title-wise, they may be a little bit short yet.”

How big is the gap to the teams above?

Chelsea may have climbed up to sixth in the league courtesy of this purple patch of form, but the clubs above have been a lot better during the campaign as a whole.

Here below is the top spots in the division table going into the final weekend of the season:

The Chelsea Chronicle agrees that a realistic target for next year should be top four.

If the likes of Reece James and Christopher Nkunku can stay fit, combined with more brilliance from Cole Palmer, there’s a squad that should be around the Champions League positions.

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