Former Chelsea icon Paul Canoville has hinted that Andreas Christensen's move to Barcelona is done as the former defender believes Levi Colwill is his natural heir for the 2022/23 season.
Talk has intensified since the special license being put on the club came into action following Roman Abramovich's sanctioning from the UK government and EU. The new terms of the license prohibits Marina Granovskaia from entering contract negotiations with key stars like Christensen and defensive compatriot Antonio Rüdiger
Therefore, it's no surprise to see the Dane eye a move away this summer once his current deal expires and it seems Xavi and Barcelona have this potential transfer swoop in the bag amid Thomas Tuchel's recent comments if Canoville is to be believed. On the 26-year-old's birthday, the former defender tweeted: "Andreas has been superb for our club Chelsea FC since coming from academy and learning trade on loan.
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"European and world champion. Wish him well with Barcelona. Levi Colwill is going to be by far the better player!"
This comment on the current Huddersfield defender and Blues loanee comes days after Anton Ferdinand compared the youngster with his brother Rio. Jules Kounde continues to be monitored by the Blues according to the latest reports but this shouldn't prevent the English centre-half from playing some sort of role in Thomas Tuchel's squad next season, just like fellow academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah has done this term to great success.
"When I looked at him and first watched him, what I noticed first was his presence, his stature and build," the former QPR defender said on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand's Presents FIVE show. "For someone so young to possess the stature he currently has, he also plays with an older head which is a big benefit as a centre-back. As a left-footed centre-back, there are not many around, and left-footed players look so much more cultured than the right-footed players, so that goes in his favour as well.
"There's being culture, but you also have to deliver, and the ball at his feet is a major asset. He's very good on the ball, very calm on the ball and collected. He's assertive with his passes and can start attacks, so when you look at a modern-day centre-back, he has everything to go back to the top. The word Rolls Royce was associated with Rio, and he has similar attributes to Rio."
Anton then went on to describe his defending more but then concluded: "Chelsea have some player on their hands." Rio himself seemed to be in favour of the comparison with his Tweet when the show aired: "Unreal show... Love the work, chaps!" Despite these recent comments on Colwill, the Blues board are set to receive offers for his permanent services in the summer with Leicester and Crystal Palace amongst others monitoring his situation closely.
