Chelsea are preparing to start contract extension negotiations with defender Levi Colwill, according to LiveScore. The move comes as Barcelona reportedly consider making a bid for the 23-year-old during the January transfer window.
LiveScore reports that the west London club has scheduled talks over improved terms for the England international, who is seen as central to the team's long-term planning under manager Xabi Alonso.
Why it matters
Colwill's existing deal at Stamford Bridge runs until 2029, so Chelsea are under no immediate pressure to act. The willingness to open talks now signals how highly the club rates him, and how seriously it views the interest building elsewhere in Europe.
The defender came through Chelsea's academy and has become a regular in Alonso's side this season after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. LiveScore notes that he was classed among the club's "untouchables" during the summer, a group that also included Cole Palmer, Estevao Willian, Josh Acheampong, Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro. Nothing reported since suggests that position has shifted.
Barcelona and Liverpool circling
According to The Daily Briefing, via LiveScore, both Barcelona and Liverpool are monitoring Colwill ahead of next year. Liverpool's interest is long-standing and stretches back to the defender's loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. Barcelona, meanwhile, have reportedly identified him as a leading centre-back target as the Catalan club looks to strengthen its defence in 2027.
LiveScore reports that Barcelona have held internal discussions about a January approach for Colwill, whose Estimated Transfer Value is put at €63 million. That activity is expected to push Chelsea into formalising new terms.
Several factors are said to work against a departure. Colwill is unlikely to agitate for a move away from his boyhood club, particularly with no guarantee of a starting place at Camp Nou. Chelsea would also expect a substantial fee before agreeing to any sale, since a replacement would be required. Barcelona's financial position, as described in the reporting, could make the deal too expensive for the club's hierarchy.
What to watch
Attention now turns to whether the scheduled talks produce a signed extension, and whether Barcelona formalise their reported interest with an actual offer when the window opens.
