PRICELESS Chelsea star targeted by PSG as part of Mbappe rebuild

Robin Bairner

1 Mar 2024 12:35 GMT
4 min read

Kylian Mbappe, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Chelsea face the prospect of fighting PSG off Levi Colwill over the course of the summer, but there is the prospect that the defender is sold as the Premier League side battles Financial Fair Play.

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Colwill has developed into a key figure under Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge after a successful loan at Brighton last season.

The 21-year-old is under contract at Chelsea until 2029 and is arguably their most important player for the future of the project.

Nevertheless, the Blues may consider a Colwill, who they are billing as an 'untouchable' player, sale in the worst-case scenario because selling academy prospects is the most effective way of alleviating FFP.

PSG, meanwhile, have recognised the potential in the left-sided defender, whose Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has risen to €31.3 million off the back of his recent form and are closely following his progress.

“PSG like Levi Colwill of Chelsea and may be prepared to play the long game to get him,” Jonathan Johnson told Caught Offside.

© IMAGO - Levi Colwill (r) is Chelsea's biggest prospect

“The former Brighton defender is a player PSG have earmarked as a potential option in the defensive positions, but he’s probably more of an alternative at the moment to the one they have made their priority, and that’s Leny Yoro.”

“Colwill is someone PSG will look to and explore in case they can’t sign Yoro, but I think the idea that they might wait a bit longer is accurate, because he could probably still do with more time to develop at Chelsea. He is a player that PSG are looking at with a view to the long term.”

PSG preparing for post-Mbappe era

Any move for Colwill would be fuelled by the money that PSG will save when Kylian Mbappe departs the club at the end of his contract in June.

The 25-year-old superstar is heading for a deal at Real Madrid, leaving PSG with a healthy hole in their wage bill that they can use to bring in other players.

The Parisian side are set to target the game’s biggest young talents but their model is, ideally, formed around exploiting the rich local breeding ground of talent, which is arguably the greatest in the world.

READ MORE: Latest Chelsea transfer news

Colwill, then, could very well be a legitimate target, although PSG already boast two left-sided centre-backs in the form of Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Beraldo, suggesting that the Chelsea star will not be prioritised.

According to data analytics experts SciSports, Colwill has a marginally higher ceiling than Lille defender Yoro, who is coveted by many big clubs around Europe but seems to favour a move to PSG.