Brighton face competition to sign star who compares favourably with van Dijk

The centre-back has already built on his fine form from last season by being a part of the England squad that triumphed at the under-21 European Championships this summer. Mauricio Pochettino will likely want to fully assess Colwill himself in pre-season before any potential exit from Stamford Bridge is sanctioned.

Colwill spent last season on loan with the Seagulls and was a key figure under Roberto De Zerbi in the second half of the campaign. Of course, the 20-year-old won’t come cheap, but the expected exit of Moises Caicedo will hugely add to Brighton’s coffers, and will have established communication channels with Chelsea that could be used to secure a deal for Colwill.

What makes Levi Colwill so special

Born in Southampton, Colwill has been in the Chelsea academy since under-9 level. At 6’2”, he lines up with the expected stature of a traditional centre-back, and has the technical quality and passing ability to thrive in a modern interpretation of the role.

According to FBRef, Colwill’s playing style makes him easily comparable with Virgil van Dijk. He even compares favourably with the Liverpool lynchpin in terms of progressive actions on the ball. Colwill averages 5.16 progressive passes and 1.18 progressive carries per match, whereas van Dijk’s respective figures are 4.05 and 0.38. Of course, this isn’t to say that Colwill is already a better player than the Dutchman, but it does serve to illustrate his dynamism and attacking instincts on the ball, which would be allowed to flourish in De Zerbi’s system. These numbers also explain why Liverpool seem to have earmarked Colwill as van Dijk’s heir and are willing to fight for his signature.

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