Leicester City’s supposed interest in Levi Colwill has been confirmed, as the defender’s choice has been revealed. Here is what you must know.
Chelsea’s development sides continue to produce starling talents all over the pitch, most though are destined to be sold as the already bloated senior team cannot integrate those players. Such is the likely fate of defender Colwill.
This 19-year-old star has been the defensive core of EFL Championship side Huddersfield Town for the prior season. English and impressive, his retail price was never going to be cheap. Nevertheless, the centre-back offers an attractive proposition for any Premier League side.
Leicester City interest confirmed
It is therefore unsurprising that we find the King Power club speculated about. It has been reported that Colwill is one of many players on Brendan Rodgers’ most wanted list. Of course, there are myriad players on that list, and issues remain with respect to signings.
Currently residing with the Foxes are several centre-backs. Jannik Vestergaard, Daniel Amartey, Caglar Soyuncu, Jonny Evans, and Wesley Fofana to be specific. However, four of those are either not good enough, getting old, or wanted by other teams. Colwill offers a future.
Leicester could look forward to building a defensive spine with the English CB and our French wonderkid at the back. On top of that, with talents such as Ben Nelson and Ben Grist in the youth sides, there is a lot coming in the next few years.
The difficulty of the deal
It would appear a no-brainer for City: Rodgers requires a healthy shake-up and bringing in a high-quality, high-potential, and young star to perform alongside our existing defensive star is a priority for the King Power club.
However, there remains one major obstacle: what we already have. The Foxes already have a full squad, and although Colwill would not count towards the 25-man registration limit, someone would need to be left out. A player being left out would mean wasted wages.
Therefore, there must be outgoings before we see regretful incomings. With the Northern Irish defender being untouchable at the moment, at least one of the remaining three must go to make space.
Even if we do manage to finally sell some defenders, and that space does open for such a quality player to be brought to the East Midlands, there would still be one issue to work out. As reported, Colwill’s own preference is not to leave Chelsea at all.
Unless he is forced out, the 19-year-old will remain at his parent club. It is a decision to be made by the Chelsea owners as to whether they cash in on this talent or retain him alongside Trevoh Chalobah. CFC are naturally looking to build a stronger side going forward.
Opinion
Should the deal be possible, we must make it happen. Selling the Ghanaian and Danish centre-backs would be a brilliant first star, allowing either Nelson or Lewis Brunt to be promoted with the signing of Colwill – a new, younger core.
However, I’m not entirely existing within fantasy. Such phantasmal whims are but a mere spec in the Foxes’ own vision for the side. They supposedly dream of this possibility, yet lack the physical capacity to realise it.
From the ghouls that incessantly reside within the team, to the deadwood lurking on the boundaries of uselessness, the great difficulty in shifting on these spirits to clear space for new possible heroes is palpable. I desperately want us to sign a centre-back, yet I cannot see it happening.
Leicester City will eventually lose the ‘only club in the top five’ achievement for no signings, but it seems it should be a long march rather than a triumphal storm. Hopefully it begins with the sale of a defender and the signing of a future star.