Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino ruins two Premier League rivals’ transfer hopes

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has ruined the hopes of both Liverpool and Brighton after confirming Levi Colwill will stay. The defender was a top target for both Premier League clubs but he will be going nowhere this summer.

Colwill impressed during his season-long loan at Brighton last term. The Seagulls were keen to sign him on a permanent deal and had a bid of £30million rejected early in the window.

Liverpool then entered the race for the England under-21 international. Colwill has just two years remaining on his Chelsea contract.

He is yet to make his first-team debut for the Blues after coming through the academy. But Pochettino has clearly seen enough to want him to remain a part of his squad in his first season as head coach.

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Colwill started Chelsea’s 4-3 pre-season friendly win over Brighton in Philadelphia. And Pochettino confirmed afterwards that the 20-year-old will be staying put.

He told reporters: “He is going to continue with us. I am happy with him, his performance was good today, better than what I expected because it is only the first game with us after the season with Brighton.

“I am so happy, he can be one of the greatest centre-backs in England.” Liverpool and Brighton will now have to look elsewhere in their search for a new centre-back.

The injury suffered by Wesley Fofana last week will likely have played a big part in Chelsea’s decision to keep Colwill. Fofana has undergone surgery after damaging his anterior cruciate knee ligament.

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The Frenchman, who was hampered by injuries in his first campaign at Chelsea, is set to miss much of this season. Pochettino has already allowed two senior defenders to leave the club this summer.

Kalidou Koulibaly has moved to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, while Cesar Azpilicueta joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer. Fofana’s injury left Pochettino short of options and any potential exit for Colwill was blocked.

Colwill returns to Chelsea having featured in 17 Premier League matches for Brighton last season. He started just 13 and missed a couple of months at the turn of the year after suffering a muscular injury in training.

Pochettino is currently without Benoit Badiashile due to the hamstring injury he sustained towards the end of last season. He didn’t travel to the USA and is working on his recovery in England and hopes to be fit for the start of the Premier League campaign in August.

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