Chelsea could face a challenging summer to keep Levi Colwill at the club amid transfer interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, according to a new report. The young defender is on loan at Brighton this season and has endured a tough few months trying to force his way into the first-team picture.
After making just three appearances, with one start, prior to the World Cup, Colwill started five successive games in the Brighton defence between the end of 2022 and start of 2023. A torn muscle bindle in late January ruled him out for a month, but he has slowly been integrated back into the fold.
Not since mid-January has Colwill started consecutive Premier League games but he was recalled to the backline in place of Adam Webster for last weekend's defeat to Tottenham. His performance in north London, along with further impressive displays over the past few months, has seemingly caught the eye of two teams planning a transfer raid of the Blues.
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According to the Evening Standard, Manchester City and Liverpool are planning to make a summer swoop for Colwill. Their interest arrives because of Chelsea's need to meet Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules which can be achieved by selling homegrown talent.
Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher both fall into that category and the Chelsea midfield duo look set to have a number of suitors at the end of the season. Liverpool have made Mount their priority, football.london understands, while Gallagher is also a target in Merseyside with Everton keeping tabs on his situation along with Newcastle.
The Blues are keen to enter contract extension talks with Colwill once he returns to Stamford Bridge in an attempt to ward off interest from City and Liverpool. Following on from the fresh transfer interest, Colwill has been denied an immediate transfer audition to further showcase his capabilities.
That is because his parent club Chelsea face Brighton this weekend which means he is ineligible to feature. This arrives as a double boost for Frank Lampard to some regard as Brighton will have one less weapon in the arsenal on Saturday and it also means interested parties will face a lengthy wait before they can watch Colwill in action again.
After the away trip to Chelsea, Brighton take on Manchester United in FA Cup semi-final where Colwill will be available.
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