Chelsea have been linked with a number of centre-backs to help alleviate concerns over their depth at the back in the summer. Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta are all set to leave at the end of the season if they don’t sign new contracts at the club.
However, due to the Blues ’ sporting licence in wake of Roman Abramovich’s sanctions from the UK Government, the club aren’t in a position to offer new deals to players. This also means they can’t transfer players either, making the future of the squad uncertain.
This could leave Thomas Tuchel with Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr as his only current senior options at centre-back. Though, that isn’t to say that Chelsea don’t already have one or two potential players for the role.
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The academy at Cobham has already provided a number of first-team players to the side, such as Mason Mount, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Chalobah. There are also a number of other emerging talents that could come in next season.
Take, for example, Levi Colwill. The 19-year-old defender has impressed on-loan at Championship side Huddersfield Town on their push back towards the Premier League.
Leigh Bromley, an ex-Premier League defender and the Head of Football Operations with the Terriers, told Goal about the progression of Colwill and backed him to follow a similar path to Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe. He said: “We had Ben Chilwell on his first loan from Leicester, we took Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea, had Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal.
"Before that, we had two Chelsea players in Izzy Brown and Kasey Palmer, while we also got Aaron Mooy in from Man City, and they all came in and did well. Now it is Levi's turn as one of our top-end loans, and he has come in and done well."
The academy prospect could be a potential alternative to Jules Kounde, due to the Blues’ difficulty to sign anyone currently, and could follow the long list of Premier League stars mentioned by Bromley in making his name at Stamford Bridge next season. Colwill has managed to overcome injury this season to make 24 Championship appearances, keeping ten clean sheets while scoring two goals in his spell.
Bromley continued: “As a person, he has fit in so well. It's his professionalism, the way he has conducted himself and approached the loan has been fantastic. Some players come in from bigger clubs and think maybe it will be easy. He has humility and openness to come in and work for his place and buy into what we are doing.
"He has been excellent and is not only a credit to himself but Chelsea, with the way they work with players and prepare them. The way he has fit into the dressing room has been unbelievable.
"The players and staff really like him and love working with him. He's looking to improve and working to get better. Talent-wise, for his age, he is the best I've seen when I've either been playing or coaching.
"The chances, for me, are so high that he will go back and play for Chelsea and England."
Given the current predicament at Chelsea, there will certainly be the hope that Colwill can match those expectations set by those at Huddersfield as well as at Cobham. Whether he gets that opportunity remains to be seen, but he could be the next big star to come out of the Blues.
