Rio Ferdinand claims Chelsea youngster Levi Colwill is already better than big-money summer signings Wesley Fofana and Badiashile.
The West London side have made a number of signings at the back in the last two transfer windows with Fofana joining last summer in a deal worth £70m from Leicester City along with Kouliably, who arrived from Napoli for £33m.
Marc Cucurella also signed for the club last summer with Badiashile arriving from Monaco in January.
Chelsea have conceded 41 goals in 36 league matches this campaign with one of their young players impressing out on loan in Colwill.
The 20-year-old joined Brighton on a season-long loan deal in the summer and while the futures of some Chelsea players are uncertain this summer, Colwill could have a future with the club set to reject any offers for him.
Having watched his progress at Brighton, former Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand is convinced he is Chelsea’s best young option at the back.
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Asked whether United could make a move for the youngster this summer, Ferdinand told VIBE: ‘We ain’t getting him, he’s at Chelsea. They ain’t going to sell him.
‘I think he is the best one they’ve got at Chelsea. He’s better than Fofana and I think he’s better than Badiashile.
‘Have you seen the way he is playing for Brighton? He has gone to Brighton, his team is higher than Chelsea.
‘He is playing unbelievably well in that team. Did you see the way he was slapping that ball around yesterday [on Sunday against Arsenal]?
‘This season, Collwill has been better than Fofana and Badiashile. 100 per cent.’
Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be finally confirmed as the new Chelsea boss this week and is eager to build a squad around some home-grown players with Colwill central to those plans.
The central defender has two years left on his current contract at Stamford Bridge with Liverpool and Man City interested in signing him.
