Joe Cole predicts where Chelsea will finish in the Premier League

Former Chelsea star Joe Cole is confident over the Blues' prospects of making the top four of the Premier League and believes there could offer an outside challenge for the title.

The west London giants could not recruit new players during the summer transfer window but they were able to retain the services of Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal while Christian Pulisic joined them following his loan stint at Borussia Dortmund.

Still, the Blues were widely regarded as outsiders to make the top four but they have proved everyone wrong during the first half of the season where they are comfortably placed in the Champions League spots.

The Blues are already nine points ahead of fifth-placed Sheffield United in the standings and Cole believes that they could yet emerge as surprise contenders for the English crown.

"I think they’re quietly chipping away at it. Going into these two weeks now, he’ll really take stock, reflect on how well Chelsea have started and they’re in amongst it. I don’t think the gaffer will thank me for this because you like to be the quiet ones coming from the outside in the title race," he told BT Sport.

Chelsea are presently third on the table with 26 points and they are eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, who registered a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Manchester City on Sunday.