Leicester City

Leicester City

Championship

Experienced Leicester defender up for sale to ignite battle with Arsenal for Chelsea prospect Levi Colwill

Levi Colwill clapping the Huddersfield Town fans

Leicester City are hoping to offload Jannik Vestergaard before launching a bid for Chelsea academy product Levi Colwill, according to a report.

Colwill enjoyed a productive 2021-22 season on loan at Huddersfield Town, with whom he reached the Championship play-off final. In turn, he has attracted a number of clubs looking to give him the next step in his career.

As the Daily Mail note, Chelsea’s pursuits of the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe mean Colwill is unlikely to get as much gametime back at Stamford Bridge. He would already be competing with Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr.

One of the clubs to have taken note of Colwill’s predicament could be Leicester City. According to the Mail, they are among the admirers for the centre-back.

After initially wondering if Chelsea may loan Colwill out again, suitors like Leicester are now getting an indication that the 19-year-old may actually be sold by the Stamford Bridge side.

Hence, there could be an opportunity for the Foxes to bid. That said, the Mail claim Leicester must first sell someone themselves to make space for him.

At risk of a departure from the King Power Stadium is Vestergaard, who only signed from Southampton one year ago. The Denmark international failed to make a major impact under Brendan Rodgers.

Hence, Leicester would be willing to move him on. He is still under contract until 2024 after his £15million move.

Should they be able to offload Vestergaard, Leicester could then step up their interest in Colwill. However, they will not be alone in their pursuit.

The report names three other Premier League clubs who are looking at Colwill. One is Everton, another is Vestergaard’s former club Southampton, and the final one is Chelsea’s London rivals, Arsenal.

Manager Mikel Arteta is said to be driving the latter’s interest. Arsenal are aiming to sign another defender this summer despite William Saliba being back with them after a loan spell away of his own.

Would Leicester suit Levi Colwill?

As a left-footed centre-half, Levi Colwill ticks a few boxes for his suitors. And at the age of 19, he has ample room to develop further.

Leicester do not really have a natural left sider among their centre-back ranks. Therefore, he could be a useful player for Rodgers.

Defence was an area of concern for the Leicester manager last season, largely due to injuries to key players. For context, they conceded 59 Premier League goals – more than relegated Burnley.

Southampton and Everton, who finished in the bottom half, conceded even more than Leicester. Arsenal, on the other hand, had a superior record.

One would imagine Frank Lampard’s Chelsea connections may give Everton a particular boost in this battle. Yet they have already made one defensive signing this summer in the shape of ex-Burnley man James Tarkowski.

Hence, Leicester may be looking more closely at that region of their own squad for now. Current options like Caglar Soyuncu, Daniel Amartey and Jonny Evans are now all in the last year of their contracts.

With that in mind, pursuing a younger target like Colwill may help them evolve. It is not yet clear how much Chelsea may want for the man under contract until 2025.

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