Rio Ferdinand keen to see Chelsea defender Levi Colwill move to Manchester United. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
As per the Athletic (subscription required), Chelsea have rejected a £30m bid from Brighton and Hove Albion to sign defender Levi Colwill permanently this summer.
Colwill, who spent this season on loan at Brighton and caught the eye of many people through his performances, has his contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2025 itself (Transfermarkt).
The 20-year-old made 22 appearances for the Seagulls in all competitions. He was close to getting an England call-up for the March international games, but an injury in January derailed that possibility.
The England U21 international is a left-footed defender who can play as a centre-back and left-back. He is comfortable operating as a wide centre-back in a three as well.
In the January window, Chelsea signed Benoit Badiashile, a player who is similar in profile and position to Colwill. Although the former AS Monaco defender is currently injured, the concern would be there regarding the playing time of him and Colwill.
The latter has attracted transfer interest from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City. If those two clubs offer him guaranteed game time, there might be a chance that the Englishman leaves Chelsea this summer.
All of this has to be managed well by the new boss Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine must decide quickly which players he is okay to keep and who to sell.
Colwill has the quality to be a regular starter in the Chelsea defence from next season onwards. Keeping him should be one of Pochettino’s key assignments this summer.
Building the defence around the Englishman would be a great start to the new era at Stamford Bridge. If and when Badiashile comes back from injury, he can fight for his position in the team.
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