Chelsea have turned down a £30m bid for defender Levi Colwill from Brighton after the defender enjoyed a successful loan spell on the south coast this season, reiterating that the club have ‘no intention of selling the 20-year-old’.
Colwill was part of the deal that saw Marc Cucurella join Chelsea from Brighton last summer, with the then-teenager heading the other way on loan. Brighton pushed for it to be a permanent deal, but the Blues refused to accept any long-term departure for the defender.
In the months since, the England U21 international has impressed in a Seagulls shirt, appearing 17 times in the Premier League and starring as they beat Arsenal 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium last month.
He has since suggested that he would be keen to extend his time on the south coast too.
“It’s been amazing”, he revealed when asked about the loan spell.
“I’ve learnt so many things. I’ve grown, not just only as a player, but as a man too, and I think it’s due to the manager and the players. I’ve just loved every minute of it.
With just two years left on his current contract at Stamford Bridge, he is yet to even make his debut for Chelsea, and Benoit Badiashile was signed in January to play at left-centre back, throwing further uncertainty on his potential game time in west London.
However, Sky Sports report that there is no intention to sell the defender this summer, despite his contract situation and perceived desire for regular first-team football, and that Brighton’s £30m has been swiftly knocked back.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
Chelsea have REJECTED outright a £30m bid from Brighton to sign Levi Colwill permanently. ❌ pic.twitter.com/c7z6SxPyOS
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 1, 2023
Pochettino is also said to be ‘excited’ about the prospect of working with Colwill, with the incoming Chelsea boss keen to build his new-look side around a core of homegrown talent, though he will seemingly be without the services of Mason Mount with the 24-year-old seemingly Manchester United bound.
Meanwhile, all of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy are expected to leave this summer.
