Reece James returns, Tuchel full of praise
Your captain is back on the pitch. Reece James played for England in their World Cup win over Norway, and Thomas Tuchel called the performance "excellent" after James's return from injury (5). With England through to the quarter-finals, Tuchel has been monitoring James's fitness closely, hoping the right-back can ease a selection crisis.
Chelsea eye Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe
Chelsea are looking at Bologna's Jonathan Rowe as the summer transfer window heats up (1). The winger would add depth to an attack that already has question marks hanging over it, with Alejandro Garnacho potentially heading out just 12 months after arriving (4).
Garnacho deal close to collapse
Chelsea are close to a deal to sell Alejandro Garnacho after a poor first season at the club (4). The Argentinian was valued at around €50m when he joined last summer. His departure would be a sharp pivot for a signing that was meant to be part of the long-term project.
Borson warns Chelsea's transfer model is unsustainable
Finance expert Stefan Borson has delivered a blunt assessment of Chelsea's transfer strategy, warning it is not sustainable despite the profit turned on Andrey Santos. "Not every signing works. Not every signing makes a profit. Some of them are complete wipeouts," Borson said (3). He pointed to the risk of players the club would be "lucky to wash their face" on, with the wage bill remaining a stubborn predictor of on-pitch performance. Santos went from a £15m buy to a £50m sale, but Borson's message is clear: that kind of flip cannot paper over every mistake (3).
Ken Bates dies aged 94
Former Chelsea owner and chairman Ken Bates has died at 94 (2). Bates ran the club for over two decades, a defining figure through the 1980s, 1990s, and into the Roman Abramovich era. His Chelsea was brash, combative, and never dull. Love him or loathe him, the club would not look the way it does without him.
Fan reactions
Chelsea fans marked the one-year anniversary of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup win, a 3–0 demolition of PSG. The mood on r/chelseafc was nostalgic, with supporters looking back on silverware while the current squad rebuild grinds on. Read the thread here.
