Brighton ready improved £40m offer for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill

Brighton & Hove Albion are preparing an improved off for Chelsea defender Levi Colwill, according to reports.

The 20-year-old spent the 2022/23 season down on the south coast and impressed, leaving Brighton wanting to keep the on loan Chelsea centre-back.

“I hope he can play with us also next year but it’s his decision and decision of Chelsea,” admitted boss Roberto De Zerbi last month. “I don’t know. We have to be ready to change some players but of course Levi is a top player for us.”

Chelsea have already rejected an initial offer of £30 million for Colwill, insisting he is not for sale as they eye a new and improved contract this summer.

Colwill is wanted at Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino next season, but Brighton’s interest remains and they will accept defeat without exhausting their efforts.

Now, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Seagulls are preparing another bid of around £40 million in another attempt to test Chelsea’s resolve over their strong stance.

Chelsea are interested in Moises Caicedo, which could see Brighton ask for Colwill as part of a deal for the Ecuadorian midfielder.

Colwill is ready to return to Chelsea despite his spell at the Amex Stadium. He will join up with the England squad for the U21 European Championships this summer before reporting back to the Blues’ Cobham training base next month.

The central defender was extremely complimentary of his loan club and remained unsure what the future has in store for him.

“Brighton have done a lot for me,” Colwill told The Athletic last month. “They put their trust in me when others didn’t and I’m a person that loves to repay that. We’ll see.

“I don’t know what is going to happen (at Chelsea). I’m still here until the end of the season. I just focus on that, then I’ve got the Euros (the Under-21 European Championship with England) in the summer.

“After that, we’ll see what happens and go from there.”