Chelsea face £35m Liverpool transfer battle for Leeds star with Levi Colwill problem clear

Chelsea continue to be linked with attackers from around Europe as Enzo Maresca prepares for his first pre-season as Blues head coach. The Italian has been tasked with steering the club forward after Mauricio Pochettino's exit from Stamford Bridge.

The former Leicester City manager will have European football to experiment with after their qualification for the Conference League, but there is a desperate need for continuity in West London. Todd Boehly has been tacticians come and go, and interim managers step in and leave. For a club of Chelsea's stature, they can't afford to dwindle in mid-table or face late scraps for European places.

Maresca's appointment is an exciting one, although it came in difficult circumstances following Pochettino's exit. Michael Olise is among the forwards mooted with a move to SW6 and while the European Championships take centre stage, the transfer window continues to bubble away in the background.

With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at the latest Chelsea transfer news and rumours...

Chelsea face Liverpool battle for £35m attacker

Liverpool are said to be rivalling Chelsea in the hunt for Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville. The Dutchman has been linked with a move away from Elland Road after the Whites failed in their bid to immediately secure a return to the Premier League following relegation in 2022/23.

According to Leeds Live, Liverpool - also under new management with Arne Slot succeeding Jurgen Klopp - are in the battle for the 22-year-old's services after a career-best campaign in West Yorkshire, winning the Championship Player of the Year award despite missing out on promotion. It has been suggested that Summerville could be valued in the region of £35million, with the player eager to move to the Premier League.

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Chelsea are in the hunt for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, but links with Summerville show the intention of the Blues to bolster their attacking options after a difficult campaign for Raheem Sterling.

football.london says: "Summerville was the standout performer in the Championship last season and it is no surprise to see the list of clubs queuing up for his signature. From Liverpool's perspective, it seems the supposed interest comes around a time when Luis Diaz is facing speculation over a move to Barcelona. For Chelsea, acquiring Summerville with the predicament that Leeds find themselves in could be the perfect opportunity to land a player in good form at a bargain price."

Chelsea can't afford to make Colwill decision

There has been a development in the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. The 21-year-old has been linked with Bayern Munich and Liverpool, who have held a long-standing interest in the Englishman, as the Blues consider sales to remain in line with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

The suggestion this summer has been that Maresca could be forced into selling a number of Cobham academy products in order to land Chelsea pure profit and steer them clear of the PSR red line. Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah have been mooted as potential players used as makeweights this summer, although there is no real risk of a breach this summer.

According to reports from Sky Sport Germany, Colwill is open to a move to the Allianz Arena under the new manager Vincent Kompany - though a high asking price could potentially scupper Bayern's plans to sign the 21-year-old.

football.london says: "There is rarely a good moment to sell some of your assets, especially those that have developed in the academy. Colwill made 23 appearances for Chelsea last season in his first full season in the first-team squad after that impressive loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, but watched the final five matches from the bench. At 21, Colwill still has a role to play at Stamford Bridge and already valued at £45m, Chelsea would be wrong to keel to the interest from around Europe unless the price is right."