3 players who could still sign for Leicester City before the season starts
By Will Kennedy
Levi Colwill to Leicester City?
For those who are frequently checking Twitter for transfer business, Colwill’s name will be a familiar one. In the last few weeks, we have been hearing of Leicester City’s interest in the young centre back.
For those unfamiliar, Colwill is the latest Chelsea academy product predicted for greatness. Still only 19, the youngster still has yet to play for the Blues but is garnering high interest from several Premier League clubs.
Not feeling like the U23s was challenging his development enough, Colwill took the brave plunge into Championship football last season as he joined Huddersfield on loan. Widley regarded as one of the toughest and competitive leagues in the world, the Championship can make or break a young player.
Colwill excelled, as did the Terriers, and he made 32 appearances for the Yorkshire-based club, playing over 2,400 league minutes as the club were narrowly defeated in the play-off final, with Colwill unfortunately at the end of the deciding own-goal. A tough experience for the young defender, but one that will make him all the stronger.
Playing a lot of his football in a back three, Colwill fits the left-sided hole that many clubs look for in their defence. With Soyuncu set to depart, and Evans only getting older, Colwill’s youth could be exactly what the Foxes need, just as Fofana was.
Whilst he fits Leicester’s criteria, an actual move for him could be difficult. Contracted to Chelsea until 2025, it will take more than the £4.5m he is valued at to secure his signature. That, alongside the fact that he is English, could see any fee easily rise into double figures.
But that’s not all: Chelsea have recently faced a mass exodus of defenders and won’t be keen to lose more. Having already lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers, Thomas Tuchel is also facing the prospect of selling veteran César Azpilicueta leaving only Marlang Sarr, Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah as their experienced options, as well as Ethan Ampadu.
For this reason, Tuchel has included Colwill in his 29-man squad for Chelsea’s upcoming tour in America; the Southampton-born defender will be hoping to impress his manager and the fans as he fights for a place in Chelsea’s plans.
If Leicester are to make a successful offer for Colwill, it will be after he comes back from America in two weeks’ time. It could happen, but the Foxes will have to play the waiting game for him, as well as fend off interest from Southampton.