Liverpool have reportedly enquired about the availability of Chelsea's Levi Colwill this summer, with Brighton & Hove Albion also keen on signing the player.
The centre-back enjoyed a productive campaign at the Amex last season whilst on loan with the Seagulls, appearing in 17 Premier League matches, with 13 of those being from the start.
Roberto De Zerbi's men achieved the South Coast outfit's best-ever finish - sixth in the top flight - and secured European football for the first time in the club's history.
The 20-year-old's performances for Brighton caught the eye of Liverpool, according to the Liverpool Echo, with the Reds enquiring about Colwill to Chelsea.
With just under two years left on his current terms at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are understood to be keen to tie the defender down to a fresh contract at the club following an impressive 2022-23 term.
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A stumbling block in such contract negotiations could be guarantees over minutes, with Colwill reportedly seeking assurances over game time before committing his long-term future to the West Londoners.
Despite Chelsea selling Kalidou Koulibaly to the Saudi Pro League, the former Huddersfield Town man would still face fierce competition for a starting spot in the form of fellow left-footed centre-back Benoit Badiashile.
Signing from Monaco for £35m in January, the two-time France international will be a player that new head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be instructed to develop by the Chelsea hierarchy, meaning Colwill's game time could be limited if he remains at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is said to be a huge admirer of the 20-year-old and is in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer to support the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
The Merseyside club conceded 47 Premier League goals last term as they ended up in fifth, representing their worst defensive record since the 2015-16 season in which they finished eighth.
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It is also understood that Brighton are pushing to bring Colwill back to the Amex, although the Seagulls are said to be also targeting alternative signings such as Ajax's Calvin Bassey, with Chelsea reportedly offering the centre-back a new long-term deal.
Colwill has formed a solid partnership with Manchester City's Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the heart of the England Under-21s side during this summer's European Championships.
The Chelsea man played the full 90 minutes as Lee Carsley's Young Lions booked their place in the final following a convincing 3-0 success over Israel, with Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and Cameron Archer getting on the scoresheet in Georgia.
England will face off against Spain in the tournament's showpiece match on the weekend - Colwill and his teammates will have gone the entire competition without conceding if they keep a clean sheet on Saturday.
Carter White
