Chelsea's board of directors convened at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to discuss the future of embattled manager Jose Mourinho.

The Blues, English Premier League champions a season ago, sit 16th in the table - just one point above the drop zone - after Monday's 2-1 loss to league leader's Leicester City. The team has lost nine times in 16 matches and have 24 fewer points than they did this time last season. They sit 20 points behind the Foxes and 14 out of the final Champions League place.

"We must always be at the top of our games and the behaviour has to be better than what we are seeing right now from every single Chelsea player," said midfielder Cesc Fabregas following the loss to Leicester.

Mourinho, who signed a new four-year deal in August, was given the public backing of owner Roman Abramovich in October, but nothing has changed since then in terms of improved play. If the team were to move on from the 52-year-old, currently in his second spell at the club's helm, it could cost Chelsea up to £40 million to buy out Mourinho.

Even if the considerable money owed to Mourinho weren't in play, there is the matter of finding a successor midseason. Among the names mentioned as possibilites include former Blues managers Carlo Ancelotti and Guus Hiddink, as well as ex-Chelsea reserve team manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Chelsea is next in league action on Saturday when it hosts fellow strugglers, Sunderland.