NaVi are reportedly pushing to sign David “frozen” Čerňanský from FaZe, with Romanian rifler Mihai “iM” Ivan the most likely player to make way. The rumor, first reported by French insider KRL and corroborated by CSGO.com, has resurfaced with renewed intensity following FaZe’s dismal showing at PGL Bucharest 2026, where they forfeited two matches to prioritize HLC Belgrade PRO for Major qualification points before losing their only played series to Inner Circle, and karrigan’s official departure to Falcons two days ago.

What We Know About the frozen NaVi Transfer Rumor

This is not a new story. Sources tell FragWire that NaVi have had frozen on their radar since the summer of 2025, when, according to Russian insider OverDrive, the Ukrainian org approached FaZe with a formal offer that was flatly rejected. Back then, FaZe’s management convinced frozen to re-sign by presenting a long-term vision built around karrigan, Twistzz, and broky. That vision no longer exists.

karrigan left FaZe on April 20 and signed with Falcons. FaZe have already named Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn as their new head coach, and ENCE’s benched rifler Ryan “Neityu” Aubry is expected to stand in at BLAST Rivals and IEM Atlanta. The squad that was supposed to keep frozen committed is gone. What remains is a team that finished last at PGL Bucharest with an 0-3 record, two of those losses being forfeits while FaZe chased Major qualification at HLC Belgrade, only to fall short there too. FaZe have now missed a Major for the first time in the organization’s Counter-Strike history.

frozen is not hiding his frustration. After FaZe’s elimination, the Slovak rifler posted on X what many read as a direct acknowledgement of the team’s freefall. According to multiple sources, he is actively evaluating his options and has no interest in sitting through a lengthy rebuild.

Why iM Could Be the NaVi Replacement Target

The logic behind iM’s potential removal is tactical as much as it is statistical. NaVi won ESL Pro League Season 23 in March with makazze earning the tournament MVP, but their ceiling against Vitality remains painfully clear. At IEM Rio 2026, Vitality dismantled NaVi 2-0 in the quarterfinals, with ZywOo posting a monstrous 1.92 rating across the series. Coach B1ad3 has previously noted that NaVi’s losses often stem from a lack of raw firepower, and frozen would directly address that gap.

iM’s role overlaps significantly with makazze’s aggressive entry style, a redundancy that has been quietly discussed within the scene since the academy talent’s promotion in mid-2025. frozen brings a different profile entirely: composed under pressure, versatile across positions, and one of the highest-rated riflers on LAN in 2025 with a 1.15+ average rating. He was ranked 8th in HLTV’s Top 20 players of 2025. At just 23 years old, he is entering his prime.

It is worth noting that not everyone agrees on who NaVi should drop. CS2 host BanKs claimed last summer that the player NaVi were actually targeting was w0nderful, not iM, with the possibility of bringing back s1mple. That particular window closed when s1mple joined BC.Game, but it illustrates that NaVi’s internal discussions have been ongoing and the target has shifted more than once.

Source Breakdown

Here is where each piece of this story stands:

KRL (via X and CSGO.com): First reported the frozen-to-NaVi link in September 2025. Has now doubled down in April 2026, specifically naming iM as the player NaVi want to replace. KRL also accurately called the karrigan-to-Falcons move days before it was confirmed. Credibility on this cycle: high.

CSGO.com: Published the initial report citing KRL’s sources. The outlet has corroborated the iM replacement angle and connected it to frozen’s public frustration after PGL Bucharest. Independently citing: moderate to high.

OverDrive (Telegram): Reported in July 2025 that NaVi formally approached FaZe and were turned down. Did not specify frozen’s involvement in the discussions at the time. Credibility: high on the historical approach, unclear on current status.

BanKs (All About Counter-Strike podcast): Contradicted the iM angle last summer, claiming w0nderful was the real target. This has not been re-confirmed in the current rumor cycle. Credibility on this specific claim: outdated, treat with caution.

Official statements from NaVi or FaZe: None. Neither organization has commented on any transfer discussions involving frozen or iM.

The Bigger Picture

FaZe are in full structural collapse. They started 2026 with a 3-10 record in best-of-three series, parted ways with coach NEO in March, lost karrigan to a direct rival, and now face the prospect of losing their best remaining player. Reports suggest that AWPer broky and rookie jcobbb are also on the chopping block, with Turkish sniper woxic heavily linked to FaZe as broky’s replacement, according to Flank Esports and CSGO.com.

For NaVi, the question is simpler but no less urgent. The current roster is strong enough to make playoff runs and collect trophies at the tier just below the absolute peak. But Vitality’s record against them now stands at a staggering 15-1, and the gap in the biggest moments is not closing. frozen would give B1ad3 the kind of star rifler NaVi have not had since the peak of their s1mple-era dynasty. Whether FaZe are willing to sell this time, with their project in ruins and frozen’s contract reportedly approaching renegotiation territory, is the real unknown.

Nothing is officially confirmed. But the smoke around this one is thicker than it has ever been.