Sources: Liverpool ready to test Chelsea’s resolve for player who can be one of the ‘greatest’ in England

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Liverpool are ready to test Chelsea’s resolve over English defender Levi Colwill, HITC Football understands.

Levi Colwill spent last season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion and the Englishman was superb for the South Coast side and this led to interest from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

The deal did not happen and Mauricio Pochettino has played Colwill in 20 Premier League games this season for Chelsea and the Englishman has a goal and an assist to his name at Stamford Bridge this campaign.

Sources believe that the London club have a desire to try and raise some cash by selling homegrown players this Summer, with Colwill a player who is expected to attract attention, whether Chelsea like it or not.

Colwill and Gallagher

Naturally, the two players that come to mind when discussing home-grown talent are Colwill and midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has been excellent for the Blues under Pochettino.

The future of Gallagher is uncertain despite the willingness of the player to sign a new deal and head coach Pochettino’s expressed desire to keep him.

We understand that Chelsea’s hierarchy are looking at options and they know that Profitability and Sustainability Rules mean that selling homegrown talent is much more profitable to them.

The other option is of course Colwill who, unlike Gallagher, decided to commit his future to the Blues in the summer despite interest from Liverpool and Brighton, who were keen on signing the defender permanently after his initial loan at the Amex Stadium.

Pochettino described Colwill as having the potential to be one of the ‘greatest centre-backs in England’ when speaking to Sky Sports during pre-season.

Liverpool’s watching brief

Despite the new contract that the defender signed, which would keep him at the club until 2029, HITC Football has now been told that Liverpool have maintained a watching brief on Colwill’s situation.

As well as this, sources believe that if Liverpool believed there was some chance of luring him to Anfield they would take it and they plan on letting Chelsea’s top-brass know that if they did want to cash in on Colwill – they are still interested.

Despite Liverpool still be on keen on the now England international, it remains to be seen if Chelsea would entertain any interest – but the same could be said of Gallagher – given his importance to the side, especially this season.

Gallagher has also played 20 Premier League games and was even handed the captain’s armband at Chelsea. Pochettino was full of praise for the defender when speaking to the Evening Standard, saying: “I think he’s doing a fantastic job, he’s working well, he’s helping the club and us and his teammates a lot.”