Chelsea's first-team squad reportedly contains players who would prefer Mauricio Pochettino to be removed from his position as head coach.
When Pochettino was appointed as the permanent replacement for Graham Potter, he was only handed a two-year contract with the option of a third.
That decision was taken with the Blues having finished in the bottom half of the 2022-23 Premier League table and with Pochettino yet to win a trophy in English football.
The 52-year-old boasts a respectable record at Chelsea, recording 19 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats from his 40 matches in charge, and has also steered the club to the EFL Cup final.
However, Chelsea remain in 11th position in the top-flight standings, four points adrift of seventh-placed West Ham United as they bid to earn European football for next season.
Parting ways with Pochettino at this stage comes with its complexities. The Argentine and his coaching team would be due a substantial sum if the remaining times on their contracts was paid up a year early.
As a result, the West Londoners would be taking a financial hit that they cannot afford if they wish to give themselves the best chance of passing the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Nevertheless, according to HITC, there are members of the Chelsea senior ranks that would prefer the club to appoint a different head coach.
The report suggests that the players in question have advised the club's co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital to go in an alternative direction for 2024-25.
If previous claims are to be believed, Boehly and Clearlake Capital are in no rush to part ways with Pochettino, with the acknowledgement being they are at the beginning of a project and success will take time.
On the flip side, spending over £1bn across the first three transfer windows of their reign has left the club's hierarchy needing to maximise as many revenue streams as possible, notably the money that comes from participating in Europe.
No decision is expected to be named before the end of the season, particularly when Chelsea's fate remains in their own hands courtesy of still having a game in hand on many of their rivals and being in an FA Cup semi-final.
Chelsea face other issues
As well as the threat of a points deduction for next season if they fail to abide by the financial rules currently in place, Chelsea may also face punishment due to rule breaches committed under the stewardship of Roman Abramovich.
Earlier this week, it was suggested that Boehly is expecting Chelsea to be handed a transfer ban in the foreseeable future having self-reported the breaches that were discovered soon after ownership of the club was secured in 2022.
