Chelsea will need to make a decision this summer regarding the long-term future of impressive young centre-back Levi Colwill.
The 19-year-old, who spent the 2021/22 campaign out on loan with Huddersfield Town and helped them reach the final of the Championship play-offs at Wembley Stadium only to lose to Nottingham Forest.
It was Colwill’s first taste regular senior football and off the back of impressing for Carlos Corberan’s side, the Chelsea defender won his first two caps for England’s under-21s side earlier this year. However, with Colwill currently back at Chelsea, a decision will have to be made about his long-term future, with the defender reportedly attracting interest from across the Premier League.
T he Mirror understands that if Colwill sees no prospect of breaking into Thomas Tuchel’s first-team plans this summer at Stamford Bridge, then he is open to an exit with a hope of breaking through into first-team football after an impressive loan spell at The John Smith’s Stadium.
It is understood that while numerous clubs have enquired about Colwill, Southampton, Leicester City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace are the four clubs that Colwill has narrowed his options down to, should he opt to leave Stamford Bridge, with Southampton also being where Colwill was born.
Colwill could however solve Chelsea’s transfer dilemma on the left side of Tuchel’s back three following the exit of Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid earlier this summer. Ex-Blues defender and Manchester City back Nathan Ake, Sevilla’s Jules Kounde, Juventus ’ Matthijs de Ligt and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol have all been linked as potential options to replace Rudiger on the left side of centre-back.
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While not a left sided centre-back, Chelsea will also be looking to replace Andreas Christensen following his recent exit from the club. Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who has often played as a right centre-back for Tuchel’s side, has been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer, the same club Christensen is heavily expected to join.
The teenager still has three years left on his contract and links with Saints are hardly a surprise. Last summer, they signed former Chelsea youth defenders Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu, as well as acquiring the loan signing of young Blues striker Armando Broja, who scored six Premier League goals for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side last term.
With a contract until 2025, should Chelsea sell the defender, they are likely to acquire a decent fee for him, given his age, international recognition and impressive maiden first senior season with Huddersfield.
If Colwill did opt to leave for pastures new, he would follow a pattern of Cobham academy graduates to leave and flourish at other clubs. England international centre-back Fikayo Tomori joined AC Milan permanently last summer after a loan stint there, winning the Serie A title with them earlier this year.
Also shining in Italy is ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, whose goals for Roma earned him a return to the England squad and helped Jose Mourinho ’s side win the inaugural edition of the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea are yet to make a summer signing since Todd Boehly purchased the club from Roman Abramovich last month. However, they have been heavily linked with closing in on a move to sign Leeds United winger Raphinha.
