Dean Saunders claims Chelsea players should return their wages after torrid season

Some of Chelsea's players should give their wages back, according to former Wales international and pundit Dean Saunders.

Despite spending big in the transfer market, Chelsea have endured a torrid time this term. The Blues are currently closer to the Premier League’s bottom three than they are the Champions League places, are already on their third manager of the campaign, and are in real danger of emulating their lowest ever finish in the Premier League era, which came during the 1993/94 season when they finished 14th.

Frank Lampard’s side did, however, end a humiliating run of six straight defeats in all competitions, as well as any lingering fears of a relegation scrap, with a 3-1 victory over strugglers Bournemouth on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Conor Gallagher, Benoit Badiashile, and Joao Felix.

But it does little to ease the woes of Chelsea fans, many of who were left both aggrieved and sceptical by owner Todd Boehly’s comments to Sky Sports last week that the supporters “are demanding,” and that “we very much believe that we're going to figure it out”.

And after such a miserable showing this season, Saunders, a former Liverpool and Aston Villa player who went on to manage the likes of Wrexham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, didn't hold back on his assessment of the club.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Saunders went as far as to say that some of Chelsea’s players should be paying back their wages and even compared the Blues to another Premier League fallen giant.

“Some of the players, give your wages back. [They] don’t deserve it," said Saunders.

“Honestly, Chelsea are the new Man United.

“You could see it happening at Man United when it needed a clear out. And I’m afraid I’m looking at a mirror image. Top players underperforming, not working hard enough.”

Chelsea currently occupy 11th spot in the table, three points adrift of rivals Fulham with four games remaining.

The Blues run-in makes for daunting reading, however, with the visit of Nottingham Forest followed by trips to both Manchester City and Manchester United before entertaining high-flying Newcastle United on the final day.

Fulham’s final four fixtures, by comparison, look significantly more favourable. Games against Leicester, Southampton, and Crystal Palace await before a trip to Old Trafford rounds off their campaign.