Southampton target Levi Colwill could be on the move this summer, and could be rated as a “special player”, according to The Sun journalist Tom Barclay.
The 19-year-old centre-back is currently under contract at Chelsea and played a key role in Huddersfield Town’s run to last season’s Championship play-off final, during his loan spell with the Terriers.
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What’s the latest on Colwill?
Colwill has been linked with a move to both Southampton and Leicester this season according to The Guardian, with the young prospect ready to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer if he sees no chance of first-team football this coming season.
The same report suggests that there could potentially be a scramble for the Southampton-born player’s signature, with Thomas Tuchel’s side being linked with numerous centre-back targets this summer, including Matthijs de Ligt.
And Barclay believes that there’s a good chance that Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side could make a move for the youngster, though Barclay believes he’s still regarded highly at Chelsea.
What has Barclay said about Colwill?
He told GIVEMESPORT: “If they start getting some of those guys in and you feel like they need a couple really, because they're mostly short of Rüdiger and Christensen, then maybe they might look at who's going to get game time and who isn't.
“But he is really highly rated and maybe as a special player, so you wouldn't rule it out.
“One to wait on I think.”
Will Colwill join Southampton?
Colwill enjoyed somewhat of a breakthrough season over the last campaign, enjoying what was his first taste of regular senior football during a loan at Huddersfield.
The £4.5m-rated centre-back made 32 appearances for the Terriers in all competitions last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist from defence, according to Transfermarkt.
The youngster’s former Huddersfield teammate in Lewis O’Brien described the starlet as “fantastic” after an impressive loan-spell in Yorkshire.
Colwill made a combined 80 successful tackles and interceptions last season according to FBref, suggesting that he should be able to adapt to the rigours of Premier League football this season, should he sign for Hasenhüttl’s side ahead of the upcoming campaign.
And a minutes per match average of 84 minutes according to the same stats provider suggests that the two-time England U21 international has played enough football to justify making the step-up to English football’s top-flight this season
An average SofaScore rating of 7.10 for the Chelsea man’s performances in the Championship suggest that he would be an exceptional signing for any Premier League side in need of a left-footed centre-back.
The 6 foot 2 Colwill may not have been tested at Premier League level yet, but the youngster’s success in the Championship last season may just convince Hasenhüttl that he is a capable option for his team, ahead of August’s top-flight kick-off.