Here is a roundup of the top Chelsea news, gossip and transfer latest from icfootballnews featuring the likes of Manuel Ugarte, Liam Rosenior and Micky Van De Ven that you may have missed…
Chelsea legend Joe Cole has called on his former club to complete a sensational summer move for Micky van de Ven, with the Dutch defender emerging as a shock target amid growing uncertainty over his future at Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking on the Dressing Room podcast, Cole urged CHELSEA to consider a bold cross-London raid, describing Van de Ven as a “brilliant addition” and suggesting the 24-year-old could be open to leaving Spurs following a difficult campaign.
Van de Ven has been one of Tottenham’s standout performers since joining from Wolfsburg in 2023, even earning the club’s Player of the Season award in his debut year and gaining recognition for his pace and defensive recovery ability.
However, Spurs’ struggles this season — including a slide toward the relegation zone and ongoing instability — have fuelled speculation that several key players could depart this summer.
Reports suggest Van de Ven is among those attracting interest, with multiple top clubs monitoring his situation should Tottenham be forced into a summer rebuild
“Micky van de Ven from Tottenham,” Cole was quoted. “I think he’s looking like he wants to leave and I think he would be a brilliant addition for Chelsea. They want to play that high line and you need a defender with pace and, you know, a good one-on-one defender. He’s brilliant.”
Will Van de Ven really cross the London divide?
Transfers between CHELSEA and Tottenham are extremely rare, largely due to the deep-rooted rivalry and the reluctance of both clubs to strengthen a direct competitor. Even in an era of increasingly fluid player movement, this remains one of English football’s most difficult divides to cross.
From Tottenham’s perspective, selling one of their best defenders to a London rival would be a last resort — likely only considered if financial pressure or relegation forced their hand. Even then, Spurs would almost certainly prefer to sell abroad or to a non-rival Premier League club.
For Van de Ven, there is also the question of perception. Moving directly to Chelsea could risk backlash from Spurs supporters and place immediate pressure on him to justify such a controversial switch.
That said, circumstances could shift. If Tottenham’s struggles deepen and a wider squad overhaul begins, opportunities may arise. CHELSEA’s need for defensive stability is clear, and Van de Ven’s athletic profile would suit their high defensive line.
Still, as things stand, this feels more like an intriguing suggestion than a realistic transfer. Cole may be right about the player’s quality — but convincing both clubs to agree could prove far harder than identifying the need.
UHARTE SHOULDA JOINED CHELSEA
Gus Poyet has urged Manuel Ugarte to leave Manchester United this summer, insisting the midfielder made the wrong decision earlier in his career by not joining the London club.
Ugarte, 24, has endured a difficult spell at Old Trafford following his big-money move, struggling for consistent minutes and failing to cement a regular starting role. Reports suggest the Uruguayan could be among several players moved on as United prepare for a midfield rebuild ahead of the 2026–27 season.
Speaking in a recent interview, Poyet described Ugarte as a “top player” but questioned his career choices, pointing specifically to his decision to join Paris Saint-Germain instead of Chelsea when both clubs showed interest. He admitted he was “upset” at the time, believing Stamford Bridge would have been the ideal environment for the midfielder’s development.
Asked if he wants Ugarte to leave Manchester United this summer, Poyet told GOAL: ‘Yeah, and it’s affected me a lot because he’s from Uruguay.
‘Before he went to Paris Saint-Germain, I wanted him to come to CHELSEA. When they started the rumours, Chelsea, big Chelsea, you know you want to come, make a decision, come to Chelsea.
‘I don’t know him, so I couldn’t call him! And he went to Paris Saint-Germain and I was a little bit upset because I thought it was perfect at that time for Chelsea.
‘But after that, he kind of didn’t kick on. Paris Saint-Germain and now Manchester United. He needs to find the right club.
‘I think he’s a top player. I think he’s a top central midfielder. I think he can cover the pitch well. He can cover spaces. He can defend well. He can play, start the options. But he needs to find the team.
‘He needs to find, I would say, the identity of a club to be able to play every week because he even lost his main position at the national team. In the national team, everybody was playing and was thinking Ugarte, [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Fede] Valverde. And then the national team is playing with two and a number 10 off the front.
‘And that’s why he’s not playing. So, yes, it’s a big summer for Ugarte and I hope he makes a good decision for him and for his family.’
Should Ugarte have joined Chelsea?
In hindsight, Poyet’s argument carries weight.
At the time Ugarte left Sporting, Chelsea were actively rebuilding with a younger squad and in need of a dynamic defensive midfielder—arguably a perfect tactical and developmental fit. Regular Premier League minutes in a transitional CHELSEA side may have accelerated his growth and allowed him to establish himself in England earlier.
Ultimately, Ugarte’s situation highlights how crucial timing and club fit are in a player’s development. While Chelsea might have provided a better pathway, success would still have depended on coaching stability and consistent opportunities.
Now, the focus shifts to what comes next.
CHELSEA TOLD TO SIGN FABREGAS
Chelsea have been urged to sack head coach Liam Rosenior and make an ambitious move for Como boss Cesc Fabregas following a damaging run of results, according to fresh reports.
The pressure intensified after a heavy 3-0 Premier League defeat to Everton, a result that left CHELSEA outside the top four and in danger of missing out on next season’s Champions League. That loss followed a humbling European exit to Paris Saint-Germain and a sequence of inconsistent domestic performances that have raised serious questions about Rosenior’s tenure.
Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Rory Jennings delivered a scathing assessment, branding the current situation “a disgrace” and insisting the club should act immediately. He called for Chelsea to “get on the phone” to former midfielder Fabregas, citing his understanding of the club and connection with supporters as key factors
Jennings told TalkSport: “Genuinely if the club’s standards are anything close to what they should be, I do know what the answer is.
“The answer is sack Rosenior now… just get him out of the club now, get on the phone immediately to Cesc Fabregas.
“Somebody who understands CHELSEA, somebody who won the league with us, somebody who knows what the standards should be, somebody who has an affinity with the fans, somebody who was an elite player themselves.
“What we need is somebody like that, the club will never do that because Fabregas has too much pride, he would never exist and work within these parameters. But if we were a club that were serious, that’s what we would do.”
Is Fabregas ready for Chelsea?
Fabregas’ growing reputation makes him an intriguing candidate, but a move to Chelsea this summer would represent a significant leap.
On the positive side, he offers a clear footballing identity and deep understanding of elite-level dressing rooms, having played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. His time at Chelsea as a player could also help him command instant respect and reconnect the club with its supporters.
However, the gap between managing Como and taking charge at Stamford Bridge is vast. Chelsea is an environment defined by immediate expectations, intense media scrutiny, and little margin for error. Fabregas has yet to prove himself under that level of pressure or demonstrate he can consistently deliver results at the highest level.
There is also a question of timing. Another step—perhaps at a mid-level European club or with more top-flight experience—could better prepare him for such a role.
CHELSEA must decide whether to prioritise long-term vision or short-term stability. Fabregas may well become a top manager, but appointing him now would be a bold and potentially risky gamble.
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