Liverpool-linked defender Levi Colwill will reportedly wait for the appointment of Chelsea's next permanent manager before deciding his future at Stamford Bridge.
The 20-year-old, who is currently spending the season on loan at high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion, has been namechecked as a potential target this summer with Liverpool set to futureproof their defensive ranks.
However, according to The Athletic, Colwill will not rush into a decision on his future in West London and will instead wait unti Chelsea have sounded out a new full-time appointment for the sacked Graham Potter.
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Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired ownership of the Londoners in May 2022, they have spent over £500m on transfers, which included defenders Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella.
Meanwhile, those who made their way to the Stamford Bridge first team before Boehly's arrival, including Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Cesar Azpilicueta, ensure any future manager will not be short of defensive options ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
England youth international Colwill, who is also reported to be high on Gareth Southgate's radar, has two years remaining on his deal in the capital.
However, a lack of first-team appearances has hindered Chelsea's hopes of extending his stay, as The Athletic's report adds: "In 2021, Chelsea announced Colwill had signed a four-year deal.
"One nuance of that deal is that it included an option for another 12 months that will only be triggered if the defender plays a certain amount of games for the first team, though that number is believed to be very achievable.
"Chelsea held initial talks over a new deal earlier this year and want the highly rated England Under-21 international to sign a long contract like other squad members.
"More discussions are planned for the summer but Colwill is not going to rush the decision. For starters, though Chelsea rate him highly, he appreciates the new coach will have his own opinion and may have transfer targets that play in his position in mind."
In the same column, it is claimed Chelsea's search for Potter's permanent successor has entered the "closing stages" with a five-to-10-name shortlist having been "whittled down to just a handful".
Liverpool are expected to be in the hunt for a new central defender during the off-season. Joel Matip could end his seven-year stay at the club as he enters the final year of his deal, while Nat Phillips could finally have his exit sanctioned after making just seven appearances for the Reds this season.
Additionally, with Virgil van Dijk turning 32 in July, Anfield officials could begin the process of sounding out his long-term successor.
Last month, however, the ECHO reported that there is no current interest in Eintracht Frankfurt's soon-to-be-out-of-contract defender Evan Ndicka, who had been touted as a potential target for Jurgen Klopp's side.
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