Chelsea face making a decision on the future of one of their brightest academy stars, Levi Colwell, who is attracting huge interest from Arsenal.
The England Under-21 international has enjoyed a reputation enhancing season on loan at Huddersfield Town who are seeking a return to Premier League ahead of their Championship Play-Off final against Nottingham Forest.
Scouts from several top clubs will be in attendance at Wembley, but the Blues have already fielded enquiries from Arsenal and Leicester City, according to Goal.
Thomas Tuchel will need to overhaul his defence this summer with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave Stamford Bridge on free transfers.
However, doubts remain over the futures of Cesar Azpilicueta and Malang Sarr, while veteran Thiago Silva turns 38 in September ahead of the winter World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for Sevilla’s Jules Kounde and expect to sign the Frenchman imminently, having come close to recruiting the centre-half last August.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Presnel Kimpembe, Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez and Torino’s Gleison Bremer are also reported to be targets, while RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is also on Tuchel’s radar.
Any move for the Croatia international would likely block Colwill’s path into Chelsea’s first team and he is unlikely to settle for a minor role next campaign.
The Blue’s therefore face a major decision and will be mindful of their decision to allow Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi leave within the space of six months.
Both are now members of England manager Gareth Southgate’s plans and were even included in the squad named this week ahead of this summer’s Nations League matches.
Colwill, meanwhile, has been likened to Chelsea legend John Terry, a comparison which has arisen due to his decision to wear the No.26 shirt while on loan at the Terriers.
‘Everyone is saying it’s because of John, but it’s because that’s the date of my birthday (Colwill was born on February 26, 2003),’ the defender told The Athletic recently.
‘It was my number when I was growing up, even if I was just playing a football game on Playstation.
‘When Huddersfield told me I was going to get the No.26 shirt it was perfect. Obviously, all the Chelsea fans started comparing me to John Terry. Have I thought about changing it because of that? No.’
He added: ‘I’ll take it. I’m not going to complain. It’s not a bad thing to be called the new John Terry. ‘I haven’t made the comparison myself so the fans and media can make whatever comparisons they want to make, it isn’t going to affect me.
‘John Terry is a club legend and leader, someone every centre-back at Chelsea should look up to. A great guy and player.
‘I’ve not had the chance to speak to him too much. When he was around the academy building we’d have the odd little chat but it’d be more of a, ‘Hi, how are you?’, kind of thing, not on a personal level about football or things like that.’
