The Chelsea Chronicle

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City when they face Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

Calum McFarlane went with a back five at Wembley, with Levi Colwill at the heart of it.

However, being at home and with Chelsea needing to win to keep their hopes of European football alive, the 40-year-old may revert to a back four.

With that in mind, here is how The Chelsea Chronicle thinks the Blues could line up on Tuesday:

In goal, we expect Robert Sanchez to retain his place. The Spaniard did not do much wrong in the 1-0 defeat to City and is the team’s No.1.

In the full-back positions, Malo Gusto is likely to start at right-back with Marc Cucurella on the opposite flank. That has been Chelsea’s main combo this season.

McFarlane has a big call to make in central defence. Wesley Fofana’s form has improved over the last couple of games, so he should keep his spot if there are no fitness concerns.

Colwill, on the other hand, may have to be rested after just returning from a serious injury. That being said, McFarlane did not rule out the 23-year-old starting in his pre-match press conference, and with this being such a huge game, it would not be a shock to see him get the nod. If not, Jorrel Hato could take his place.

What would you go with for the Spurs game? A back three or back four?

Gusto staying at right-back means Reece James can partner Moises Caicedo in the middle of the pitch. That is a strong midfield pairing.

Out wide, Cole Palmer continues on the right, with Pedro Neto returning to the side to play on the left. Enzo Fernandez is the No.10.

Chelsea have swiftly confirmed that Xabi Alonso will become their next manager at the end of the season, however are making efforts to have him in attendance for their upcoming fixture against Tottenham.

Reports confirmed Alonso had signed his deal moments after the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City at Wembley, a move Joe Cole accused of an attempt at saving face by the ownership.

Alonso has since given his first words as Blues manager, looking to get supporters on board and excited about what is to come with the Spaniard at the helm.

Xabi Alonso’s first words as Chelsea manager!

What are you expecting from Alonso’s first season in charge?

Chelsea want Xabi Alonso in attendance for Tottenham clash

Chelsea fans would likely struggle to get up for two games left in the Premier League season, even if one has implications on arch-rivals Tottenham’s status as a top-flight club.

Those in charge at Stamford Bridge seem to have other thoughts though, and journalist Simon Phillips has claimed they are considering having him in attendance on Tuesday night.

He said: “Chelsea trying to do something with Alonso at the game Tuesday. He could be there, let’s see how it goes.”

Calum McFarlane will remain in the dugout for the final two games of the season, with the Blues hosting Spurs before making the trip to Sunderland on the last day of the campaign.

The sight of Alonso could be a significant boost to the crowd, as well as the players who are looking to prove a point that they should be in the plans for next season.

It’s going to be a big summer for Xabi Alonso and Chelsea!

Alonso has his first say over Chelsea squad

During talks over taking the job, the Spaniard will have had his say over who he believes is important to keep from the current setup.

Alonso wants Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez to stay despite links for both of them to make a move to Spain this summer.

The incoming boss has also stood in the way of any potential Joao Pedro exit, with Barcelona registering interest in bringing him in.

Alonso will also be looking to the transfer market to bolster the Blues squad, and will reportedly have more of a say over signings than those who came before him.

Chelsea academy product Conor Gallagher scored a crucial goal for Tottenham in their Premier League win over Aston Villa, and was lauded by manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Gallagher’s long-range goal got Spurs on their way to a 2-1 victory over the rotated Europa League semi-finalists, who started both Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham.

The former Chelsea midfielder is currently earning £200k-a-week at his new club, although Spurs will defend that investment if he keeps them in the Premier League.

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Jamie Gittens and Estevao are both still out injured ❌

Roberto De Zerbi delighted after getting ‘Chelsea version’ of Conor Gallagher

Chelsea’s arch-rivals moved out of the relegation zone last night following their win, and Roberto De Zerbi put a lot of that down to the performance of Gallagher.

Before the game, the boss had pleaded to see a version of the midfielder which resembled the performances he produced at Chelsea, and when reminded of that he admitted he wasn’t disappointed with what he saw.

He said to the Tottenham website: “Yes, absolutely – when Gallagher plays like this, we play with 12 players because you can find him as a striker, as a midfielder, as a full-back, everywhere on the pitch you can find him. Great player, great passion, great qualities. Great player.”

Gallagher got off to a rough start at Spurs, however will not have been helped by the managerial circus which has greeted him since moving to North London.

He looks to be a crucial player for De Zerbi, a combination that Chelsea fans were reportedly not far away from seeing at Stamford Bridge.

What will Xabi Alonso go with if he gets the Chelsea job, a back three or back four? 🧐

Chelsea can still pour misery on Tottenham

While Spurs climbed out of the relegation zone on Sunday night, there is still work to be done to avoid what would be an embarrassing drop to the Championship.

They have three games left this season, with the penultimate being at Stamford Bridge against Calum McFarlane’s Blues.

Chelsea have taken great pleasure in spoiling the party for their rivals in the past. The infamous ‘Battle of the Bridge’ saw the Blues put an end to Tottenham’s title hopes in 2016.

Chelsea fans may have London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to blame for the club’s disastrous appointment of Liam Rosenior as manager.

Rosenior was always seen as a risk by many, and in the end, he proved to be an unsuccessful gamble.

Under him, Chelsea kept just one clean sheet in 13 Premier League games and were on a run of five consecutive defeats in the top flight before his dismissal on Wednesday.

Chelsea owners finally pull the plug ❌

What was Liam Rosenior's biggest mistake as Chelsea boss?

Behdad Eghbali moved quickly after fearing Liam Rosenior would join Tottenham

Despite Rosenior being a young and fairly inexperienced manager, Chelsea still decided to bring him in from their sister club Strasbourg.

According to The Telegraph, one reason they hired Rosenior was because co-owner Behdad Eghbali and his sporting directors started to hear that there was a possibility of the 41-year-old succeeding Thomas Frank at Tottenham.

As a result, there was a rationale within BlueCo that if Chelsea did not appoint him as manager then, he would have ended up at Spurs or another Premier League club instead.

Chelsea have now been criticised for the whole situation by various pundits. Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville has been very critical of Chelsea.

According to Neville, the club’s owners need to be held to account as well as the sporting directors and players.

Eghbali and Co now need to hire a new manager to replace Rosenior, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola thought to be one name they admire.

It has already been claimed that Eghbali wants to see Iraola in the Stamford Bridge dugout next season.

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic is also said to be under consideration, while Marco Silva’s name has popped up as well.

Clearly, Chelsea want to hire someone with a bit more experience than Rosenior. They are trying to learn some lessons, but so much damage has already been done.

Their poor decision-making has destroyed Chelsea’s season and perhaps the reputation of another young and talented manager.

Chelsea could find it tricky to sign one player from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Tottenham will not be in a good position if they get relegated from the Premier League this season, which is very possible. They are currently in the bottom three.

However, relegation does not mean that Spurs are going to start selling to one of their biggest rivals Chelsea.

Reece James and Levi Colwill watched on as Chelsea lost a fourth consecutive Premier League game against Manchester United! Where would the Blues be if they stayed fit? 🤔

Top five?

Tottenham view Lucas Bergvall as ‘unsellable’ amid Chelsea interest

Chelsea tried to sign Lucas Bergvall during the January transfer window, and their interest has not disappeared.

It was even reported that Chelsea had already prepared a contract for Bergvall, showing how serious they were about bringing the midfielder to Stamford Bridge.

According to CaughtOffside, they could try to sign Bergvall again with a “creative” offer. However, whatever the Blues come up with may not be enough to land the 20-year-old.

The same outlet claims that Tottenham currently view Bergvall as “unsellable”. Whether they would be able to maintain that stance in the Championship remains to be seen.

Spurs still have to play Chelsea before the season ends, meaning the Blues could play a role in determining whether their London rivals remain in English football’s top flight or not.

Chelsea should be prioritising other players from Tottenham

Bergvall has a lot of potential, but if Chelsea are trying to take advantage of Tottenham’s situation, the player they should be targeting is Cristian Romero — or Micky van de Ven.

Chelsea need experience, not more potential, especially in central defence. Romero or Van de Ven would add that.

This season, the Blues have been poor defensively. Since Liam Rosenior took over, they have only managed to keep one clean sheet in 12 Premier League games.

If Chelsea fans think they have it bad, imagine what Tottenham’s supporters are feeling. If relegated, Chelsea are supposedly ready to raid their London rivals for two players.

A 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Sunday was compounded when Leeds produced a shock 2-1 win over Man United. It leaves Tottenham in 18th place, with West Ham two points clear of Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

With six games to go, there is a real chance that Tottenham are relegated at the end of the season. If that is the case, De Zerbi will be tasked with overseeing a fire sale of players, and Chelsea are keeping tabs.

You can sign ONE player from Spurs if they’re relegated, who are you choosing?

Indeed, reports claim that Chelsea would make moves for Muhamed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall if their rivals were relegated to the Championship. But if Chelsea are to raid Spurs, are they the right signings?

Chelsea are eyeing the wrong Tottenham players

Spurs were keen on a £40m deal for Sweden star Bergvall in the January window, but nothing came of it. In terms of Kudus, the former West Ham star is clearly keen to remain in London and that may play a part.

But they are targeting the wrong players. If they go down, Chelsea are right to look at Spurs as a scouting pool and while Kudus and Bergvall are good players, they are the wrong choices. There are better options.

This summer, Chelsea will prioritise a centre-back. Cristian Romero looks destined to end up at an Atletico Madrid or something similar, but what about speedster Micky van de Ven? Chelsea want a left-footer.

The Blues’ interest in Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio is proof of that. Van de Ven is still considered one of the best central defenders in Europe, and Liam Rosenior likes to play with a high defence. Van de Ven is ideal.

He fits the Chelsea criteria in terms of signing young, while also bringing in a defender who is largely said to be one of Tottenham’s best players. Whether van de Ven would join Chelsea remains to be seen.

Spurs’ best player in recent weeks has been Archie Gray

One criticism of Tottenham is the lack of fight among the squad. But one player is giving everything he has got and that is £40m youngster Archie Gray, who joined Spurs from Leeds United back in 2024.

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Prior to Tottenham signing him, Chelsea had ‘signalled their interest’ in England U21 talent Gray. In the last few weeks, Gray has easily been Tottenham’s best player and is comfortably outperforming Bergvall.

Signing a player in Bergvall’s profile makes sense given Enzo Fernandez’s future, and the lack of impact from Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia. Andrey Santos has been linked with Man United and Inter Milan.

But Gray is better than Bergvall and if Chelsea have the choice of signing two Tottenham players in the summer, then they should look no further than Gray and van de Ven, instead of Kudus and Bergvall.

Relegation for arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur would be a sweet end to the season for Chelsea, and reports have stated that they could raid their rivals in the summer.

A change of manager to bring in Roberto de Zerbi did not generate results for Chelsea’s rivals early on, and the January signing of former Blue Conor Gallagher has not helped either.

This is despite Spurs paying Gallagher £200k-a-week, four times more than what he was earning at Stamford Bridge.

You can sign ONE player from Spurs if they’re relegated, who are you choosing?

Chelsea want Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall if Tottenham are relegated

Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali have been keen to make opportunistic signings since taking over as owners of Chelsea, and bringing in players from a relegated side would certainly fit that bill.

According to Simon Phillips, the Blues are keen on Spurs pair Lucas Bergvall and Mohammed Kudus, and interest could develop further should they not be able to get out of the relegation zone.

Bergvall could fit what Chelsea need in the summer if the club decide to part ways with Enzo Fernandez at the end of the season.

The Argentine has made his desire to play for Real Madrid clear during the most recent international break, something which saw him receive a two-game ban from the Blues.

Bergvall has shown immense promise whenever he has been fit for Spurs, and his recent injury woes have been a big reason behind their struggles.

The same can be said for Kudus, who has not played since the start of January. Spurs are without a Premier League win in this time.

Chelsea without Reece James, discuss…

Chelsea previously held a very strong interest in signing Kudus, both before he joined Spurs and when he still played for Ajax.

There will be plenty of Chelsea fans who would love for their side to bring in a new attacker after the poor first seasons for Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap.

Kudus would bring Premier League-proven abilities too, something many have been crying out for Chelsea to add to their ranks for a number of seasons now.

One of the most surprising players to be linked with a move to Chelsea in the January window was Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid Lucas Bergvall, given the rivalry between the two sides.

A few seasons ago, it was almost impossible for a player to switch clubs. There have been a handful of examples, but Tottenham were on a level playing field with Chelsea, and it made a switch pointless.

Factor that in with the rivalry between the two London clubs, and it rarely happened. But these days, Tottenham are a side battling relegation, and while Chelsea’s form is bad, it is far superior to Spurs’.

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Left-footed, £35m and scores goals. Perfect.

It means Tottenham’s players become an option for the likes of Chelsea, Villa, Newcastle or even higher up the food chain. Certainly, in January, Bergvall was supposedly targeted by both Chelsea and Villa.

Chelsea were willing to pay north of £40m for Bergvall

The Sweden international has just helped Graham Potter’s Sweden qualify for the World Cup, thanks to a brilliant 3-2 win over Robert Lewandowski’s Poland. Viktor Gyokeres scored an 88th-minute winner.

Just hours later, Swedish outlet SportBladet reported how much both Chelsea and Villa were willing to spend to lure Bergvall away from North London in the winter window. Both were ready to pay £40m.

Or, more. Spurs had signed Bergvall for just £8.5m and yet, they flat-out rejected Chelsea and Villa. Even though it was going to be a massive profit in terms of Financial Fairplay, Spurs did not want to sell him.

Tottenham could be set to rue rejecting Chelsea bid

Spurs have made a last-minute move to hire Roberto De Zerbi as manager, and amid the fight to avoid relegation to the Championship, it might just hand Spurs the impetus to achieve top-flight safety.

FINAL: Who do YOU think should be Chelsea manager next season?

But if they do go down, so will the price of their players. Spurs will be forced to get players out of the door in order to reduce wages and bring in money to cover the loss of the Premier League’s TV money.

So, if Spurs do go down, it is easy to imagine that Bergvall will be one of several players to leave in the summer. But there is no chance that Spurs will receive offers of £40m for the Swedish star this summer.

Chelsea are currently being linked with Tottenham Hotspur defender Luka Vuskovic.

Vuskovic is not at Chelsea’s London rivals right now, with the centre-back on loan at Hamburg.

He has really impressed there this season and is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs as a result, including Liam Rosenior’s side.

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Share your thoughts below!

Chelsea could soon discuss transfer with Luka Vuskovic

Chelsea are expected to bring a new central defender to Stamford Bridge in the summer, and it appears that Vuskovic is one name on their radar.

According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are both interested in signing the 19-year-old, while Liverpool and Barcelona could also join the race for his signature.

The Blues seem to be the ones who are really keen on Vuskovic, though, with the same outlet claiming that there is a sense that it may not be long until they approach the player’s people about a transfer.

CaughtOffside’s report also states that the Croatian could cost £86m, so he is not going to be cheap.

Of course, if Spurs get relegated this season, that could change things a bit. They are currently in 17th place in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone.

While Vuskovic is being linked to Chelsea, there has been speculation about Tottenham wanting Josh Acheampong.

Luka Vuskovic not the Tottenham player Chelsea should be targeting

Vuskovic already looks like a powerful centre-half with a very high ceiling. He has even managed to score five goals in the Bundesliga this term.

However, Chelsea need an experienced central defender who will be a guaranteed success in the Premier League. With that in mind, the Club World Cup winners should be targeting Micky van de Ven or Cristian Romero.

Joe Cole has already told Chelsea to sign Van de Ven, and if Tottenham do go on to get relegated, there is little stopping the club from landing him or Romero.

Chelsea still have to play their London rivals so could easily end up having a role in their relegation if it does happen.

Players very rarely make the controversial move across London between Chelsea and Tottenham, although Joe Cole has told the Blues to bring in one player from North London this summer.

While Chelsea fans are stressing out about their current situation in the Premier League, things are far worse for their arch-rivals.

Spurs are on the verge of dropping into the relegation zone, even after bringing in Conor Gallagher on £200k-per-week.

Over to you, Chelsea fans 👀

Joe Cole tells Chelsea to sign Micky van de Ven

A number of their players would not struggle to secure a move away should they be relegated, with Micky van de Ven at the top of that list.

Joe Cole was asked to name one player he would like Chelsea to sign when the transfer window opens again, and he told the Dressing Room podcast that he would go for the Spurs defender.

He said: “Micky van de Ven from Tottenham. I think he’s looking like he wants to leave. I think he’d be a brilliant addition for Chelsea.”

The Dutchman joined Spurs for £35m (Sky Sports), and we named Van de Ven as one of the three players from there they could target ahead of a potential fire sale at the end of the season.

There may be concerns regarding his attitude, with accusations flying his way saying he has downed tools as things are getting tough in North London.

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Chelsea’s centre-back woes

With Levi Colwill unavailable for the entire season so far, Chelsea have struggled to find consistency at the back.

Even the January addition of Mamadou Sarr has so far not gone as planned, after his Champions League debut against PSG did not go as he would have hoped.

The likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile are all likely to be on the chopping block at the end of the season, meaning they would need to find a replacement or two.