Chelsea and on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion defender Levi Colwill has revealed he idolised Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard growing up.
The Reds have been mooted with a move for the Londoners youngster who has flourished in his first spell in the Premier League on the south coast has prompted speculation over his future. Chiefs at Anfield are admirers of the 20-year-old amid Jurgen Klopp's comments on tracking defensive options in the upcoming transfer window.
Reports have suggested the Stamford Bridge side are reluctant to let one of their prospects go. However, there is growing speculation that Mauricio Pochettino will be forced to decrease his squad after their free-spending season in Todd Boehly's first as Chelsea owner.
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The adulation for the Liverpool captain is nothing new after Gerrard has inspired a number of the current generational stars. One of which is in-demand Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham.
Speaking to Goal in 2021, Colwill said: "Growing up it was always Steven Gerrard, watching him, a leader. I was just amazed by him, I used to have pictures of him in my room and I always used to try and copy him before training or before I was playing.
"I always thought I was him, dressing up as him, had the same boots that sort of thing - that was it. I just looked up to him. I wasn't really ever a centre midfielder but I always try and have the same mentality as him so I went from there."
While speculation swirls surrounding the defender, he has been coy in talk over his future. But he did concede his love for the Seagulls fans in an interview with The Athletic.
"They put their trust in me when others didn’t and I’m a person that loves to repay that. We’ll see," he said.
"I don’t know what is going to happen. I’m still here until the end of the season. I just focus on that, then I’ve got the [Under-21] Euros in the summer. After that, we’ll see what happens and go from there.
"Who knows, we’ll see what happens in the summer. I love the Brighton fans, I love everything about them (the club). I’ll take that into consideration."
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