Chelsea makes final Levi Colwill transfer decision after Liverpool and Bayern Munich interest

Liverpool would be forgiven for a sense of deja vu. With Chelsea potentially in a spot of bother to comply with financial regulations, and a new manager at Stamford Bridge only adding to the uncertainty, Levi Colwill has been mooted as a transfer option.

That exact scenario presented itself last summer, although now it's Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, not Mauricio Pochettino. But it seems Liverpool will have to be braced for the same outcome, with the Blues having made their final decision.

Last time around under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool opted not to add to the back line at all. That worked massively in the favor of Jarell Quansah, who has emerged as a superstar in the making, but it does mean Arne Slot and Michael Edwards have been left to scour the market, with more urgency than their predecessors.

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Joel Matip has left at the end of his contract, and Virgil van Dijk is turning 33. Even accounting for the rise of Quansah, someone like Colwill would be an ideal addition at Liverpool, setting Slot up with a more or less future-proofed back line.

But according to London World, Chelsea has made its mind up. Colwill is 'not for sale' and the club will not even entertain any talks, with the player himself said to be excited to work under Maresca.

Chelsea had a stronger hand this year, having committed Colwill to a new long-term deal last summer amid the uncertainty. Liverpool and Brighton were linked on that occasion, with Bayern Munich now also supposedly in the mix, but all suitors seemingly face disappointment.

Despite Chelsea's firm stance, the need to sell academy graduates by June 30 looks very real, with the financial situation looking precarious for Todd Boehly. It's thought that Conor Gallagher and Trevor Chalobah could be used to raise the funds needed to stay within the rules.

Liverpool.com says: Chelsea ended the season well, securing a European place, which should help prevent stars like Colwill agitating for a move. Those long-term contracts also look like smart plays from Boehly, albeit not necessarily for the reason he intended; he would have expected the London club to be far more competitive by now, but the bumper deals do help to prevent an exodus of talent.

No doubt Liverpool will continue to monitor Colwill. If things don't improve for Chelsea, either on or off the pitch, then its firm stance could eventually be tested. But for now Slot and the team must turn their attentions to alternative options — always remembering the major role Quansah has proved he can play.