Surrounding all of the news about the new additions to Chelsea Football Club, updates regarding players potentially leaving west London have taken a back seat. First reported by Fabrizio Romano, centerback Levi Colwill is now likely going to be exiting on a permanent deal this summer with the Blues trying to sign three top centerbacks to replace what was lost at the end of the season. The deal for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has been completed, but the club has its eyes set on two more defenders outside the club. This is disappointing considering that one of the answers is staring it straight in the face.
Last summer, the Blues saw two of their most promising academy players, Mark Guehi and Tino Livramento, depart for Crystal Palace and Southampton respectively. Guehi would end up playing more minutes than any other Eagles in the Premier League, starting every match he played in as he began to prove himself at the highest level of English football. Livermento collected the third-most interceptions on the Saints’ team this past season and proved to be an x-factor on the pitch whenever out there for a team that may have surprised some people. These two case studies just go to show that Colwill should not be sold by Chelsea.
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill could leave in the coming weeks amid interest
Colwill is arguably the best of the bunch. While the trend at the club has been to use the money that is available to it to get the best talent available, when it comes to centerbacks, it may be time to be more frugal. This is because of the potential that one of Chelsea’s own possesses. Following a season where the team he was on loan with was nearly promoted to the Premier League, Colwill is as hungry as ever to play in the top flight in his home country. If Colwill leaves, the precedent for members of the academy will remain the same. The club is always going to try to replace its academy players with ones around the world who it thinks are more talented, but the reality is, the talent that the Blues desperately need is right in their own training ground right now.
Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel should still go out and hunt for individuals in Europe’s top five leagues who fit the mold of the club. But before they do, they need to remind themselves of the quality players coming up at the academy level. Ian Maatsen is about to embark on his third season-long loan as a Chelsea academy player. The left back is going to be playing for recently relegated side Burnley in the Championship following a stellar season with Coventry City. Maatsen has the potential to grow into a wingback who can help alleviate the time on Ben Chilwell’s legs during the season, but given the way this club has run in the past, the answer to that issue will most likely be found outside the club.
Despite last season being his first on loan, Colwill proved at such a young age that he can play at the top level of English football. He started 26 out of his 29 matches played for Huddersfield Town this past season. Arsenal, Leicester City and Southampton have all expressed interest in the 19-year-old, as well. The legend of Colwill is growing around England as Terrier fans view him as one of the best players they have seen don the colors. Chelsea’s academy players should be able to supplement the losses—especially in the back line—and with Colwill demonstrating his talent in one of the top leagues in Europe, the Blues would regret letting a player of his caliber go.
He possesses sheer strength on the ball and lateral quickness to be able to stymie attacks, while being able to start up a counter going the other way with his remarkable awareness on the ball. The lights are never too bright for a man still growing into his own as a footballer. While Chelsea has produced some prolific players in its academy in the past, Colwill might be one of the best players this storied club has ever developed. Nathan Ake should not be a player that excites Blues fans, Colwill should be the player that this club is investing in due to the ceiling that he could potentially reach in a few short years.
Colwill is rumored to want to stay in west London, but with all of the news regarding signing several centerbacks, he could go elsewhere to get more time at a club that is going to use him as one of the core pieces of its defense. After nearly leading the Terriers from 20th in the Championship to one win away from Premier League promotion, Colwill believes it is time to prove himself at his parent club. Rumors surrounding the Southampton native leaving should set alarm bells off for the club to begin to prioritize a player who could evolve into an essential part of the club’s future aspirations.
Guehi was one situation, but Colwill’s is completely different. His ceiling could be becoming the starting centerback for the England National Team one day and an intricate part of Chelsea’s return to the top of the Premier League. Colwill is simply a different breed of footballer at such a young age, and the fact that the Blues are even discussing his possibly leaving for good will only come back to bite the club more than it thinks.