Chelsea reportedly have no intention of entertaining summer bids for young defender Levi Colwill amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool.
After shining for Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2022-23 season, helping the Seagulls qualify for the Europa League for the first time in their history, Colwill was integrated into Mauricio Pochettino's first-team squad.
In order to fend off advances from rival clubs, the Chelsea hierarchy sanctioned a new six-year deal for the highly-rated Englishman, whose current terms run until 2029 with the option of a further year.
Colwill has nailed down a regular starting position in Pochettino's team this season, making 32 appearances in all competitions - including 20 Premier League starts - and contributing one goal and one assist.
The 20-year-old has also worn the captain's armband on two occasions for the Blues, and after recovering from a hamstring problem, he has reverted to his preferred central role thanks to Ben Chilwell's return from injury.
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Colwill would be forced to cover for Chilwell and Marc Cucurella at left-back earlier in the campaign - a position he was not completely comfortable in - and Chelsea still cannot escape mid-table obscurity as they languish in 11th place in the rankings.
The Blues' collective struggles this term have led to suggestions that rival parties could try to tempt the one-cap England international away from Stamford Bridge, with Liverpool and PSG prepared to battle one another for his signature.
However, the Evening Standard states that Chelsea will reject any approaches for Colwill in the summer transfer window, and the 2003-born centre-back also remains content in West London despite the Blues' predicament.
All of Liverpool, Manchester City and former loan club Brighton were apparently in the mix to sign Colwill last summer before he penned his long-term extension, and PSG sporting director Luis Campos is now pushing for the Ligue 1 champions to bring him to French capital.
PSG and other possible suitors are reportedly holding out hope that Chelsea will relax their stance and consider bids for Colwill should they need to raise funds quickly, as they are walking a tightrope when it comes to Profit and Sustainability rules.
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Parting ways with academy products - whose sales would go down as pure profit - is an effective way of staying on the right side of Financial Fair Play rules, but the Blues already have several home-grown players on the chopping block.
The report adds that Trevoh Chalobah, Conor Gallagher, Ian Maatsen and Armando Broja could be offloaded in the summer, and PSG could therefore wait until 2025 before making a serious play for Colwill.
However, should Chelsea once again miss out on Europe and the financial benefits that come with playing in continental tournaments, their resolve over the 20-year-old could be tested ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Colwill has represented the Blues since 2011 and also spent a season on loan at Huddersfield Town before joining Brighton for 2022-23, after which he won the Under-21 European Championship with England.
The defender completed 79 minutes of Saturday's 2-2 draw with West London derby rivals Brentford, where Pochettino's side dropped points for the fourth time in five Premier League games.
Ben Knapton
