Chelsea £100m problem opens door for Liverpool to reignite interest in transfer target

The possibility of Chelsea running into trouble with Premier League rules could open the door for Liverpool to reignite their interest in transfer target Levi Colwill.

With Liverpool known to be looking at strengthening the defence this year, Colwill is a name who has been on the club's radar for some time.

Anfield Watch reported on the Reds' interest in the England international last summer before he signed a long-term contract extension at Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old's new deal keeps him at Chelsea until at least 2029, while (at least publicly) the London club see their young defender as a key player for both the present and future.

However, there are question marks over the long-term nature of anything at Todd Boehly's Chelsea currently.

Player turnover has been a key element of the American's short reign at the club, with Roman Abramovich's successor (famously) spending over £1bn for new players, while raising £400m in sales since his takeover in the spring of 2022.

Along with wild spending, the beaten Carabao Cup finalists have already been through four managers in the Boehly era (Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino), while players like Conor Gallagher have both worn the captain's armband and been strongly touted for the exit within the same week.

Now according to a report from the Telegraph, the Blues may be required to raise funds in order to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules before the summer.

The report claims that the Blues are "braced for another summer exodus of players" while there is "speculation among some of Chelsea’s rivals is that they need to raise around £100 million by the end of June this year."

It is added that the club denies that figure, while claiming that any sales would be made with re-investment in mind.

Instead of Colwill, the likes of Lewis Hall, Romelu Lukaku, Ian Maatsen, Armando Broja, Trevoh Chalobah and Gallagher are the players named in the report as most likely to be sold.

However, regardless of other options on the table for Chelsea, if there is any truth to the story, it does present an opportunity for Liverpool to test the Blues' resolve on Colwill's untouchable status.

The Reds have been on the lookout for a young, versatile, left-sided defender for some time, with the likes of Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP) and Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen) among the options looked at.

Colwill is known to be admired and clearly has the potential to develop into a top Premier League and international-level defender.

Back in January, Anfield Watch reported that while Chelsea remain resolute in their stance that Colwill is not for sale amid Liverpool interest, there is a sense that the situation may change in the future.

In addition to the financial requirements, the defender's own designs on his future could come into play.

It's not out the realms of possibility that Colwill's happiness at Stamford Bridge could be affected by factors like Chelsea missing out on European qualification this season — a highly likely scenario — or his own preference to feature more regularly at centre back.

Interestingly, the defender's parents are also Liverpool fans.

He told the Guardian ahead of the Carabao Cup final: “My dad, Levi, is a real Liverpool fan … he tells me all the news, injuries, the knowledge that fans have that I wouldn’t really know myself.”

He added: “When I was on loan at Brighton last season and we won 3-0, I gave my dad a bit [of stick] and he didn’t like it! That was the first time I ever played against Liverpool so to win, especially, you have to give him a bit for it.”

With academy players counting as 'pure profit' in the accounts, the chance to cash in on Colwill, particularly were he to push for a move, may be too good to turn down for Chelsea.

The final date of the financial reporting year is June 30.

While Liverpool's transfer plans are likely to be on hold until the club sort out the succession plan for Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, there's every chance the Reds' hierarchy will be keeping a close eye on the Colwill situation.