Everton and Southampton have joined Premier League rivals Leicester City in the race to sign Chelsea’s Huddersfield Town loanee Levi Colwill, as reported by Gianluca di Marzio.
Earlier this week, former Chelsea hero Paul Canoville took to Twitter to make a rather bold prediction. 19-year-old Colwill, he believes, will become ‘by far’ a better defender than Champions League winner Andreas Christensen.
And, with Christensen out of contract, the teenager may be offered an opportunity to prove Canoville right sooner rather than later.
According to Di Marzio, Chelsea are delighted about the progress Colwill has made out on loan at Huddersfield; A rock at the heart of a side defying all expectations to all-but secure a play-off place under former Leeds U23 coach Carlos Corberan.
Will Levi Colwill play for Chelsea next season?
Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, plans to give Colwill an opportunity to stake his claim in pre-season, a la Nathaniel Chalobah in 2021.
The impending departures of Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta, not to mention Christensen, could certainly open the door for the England U21 international. Thiago Silva, meanwhile, is starting to show signs of age at 37.
Di Marzio, however, points out that there is a host of clubs willing to offer Colwill regular first-team football if he cannot make an immediate step up from Huddersfield to Stamford Bridge. Southampton and Everton are keen, as are a Fulham side on the verge of promotion.
Leicester City, meanwhile, have already submitted at least one bid for a player who has been tipped to have a ‘fantastic’ career at the top level of the game.
“When people like that come in, he’s a young player and you question is he going to perform?” Colwill’s Huddersfield team-mate Lewis O’Brien tells Yorkshire Live.
“But he has stepped into the Championship unbelievably well. I’m sure he’s got a fantastic career ahead of him at the highest level.”
Colwill is under contract at Chelsea until 2025.
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