Football News: Chelsea 'agree long-term contract with Levi Colwill'

Chelsea are said to have reached an agreement with Levi Colwill on a new long-term contract.

Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have been focused on ensuring that the Premier League team stays on the right side of FFP at a time when they do not have European games on their schedule since the end of last season.

This has often meant that players with two years or less on their contracts are available for the right price, as Conor Gallagher was just last week.

However, Mauricio Pochettino is thought to have made it clear from the time he walked through the door at Stamford Bridge that Colwill is an important part of his plans.

Despite being regarded as one of the greatest academy products of the last decade, the 20-year-old has yet to play a competitive minute for Chelsea, instead spending time on loan with Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Colwill's time at the Amex Stadium was a smashing success, but it further complicated matters in terms of a renewal due to the Seagulls' desire for a permanent deal and additional interest from elsewhere.

Nonetheless, Chelsea have persuaded Colwill that his future is at Stamford Bridge, according to The Athletic.

The England Under-21 international is claimed to have verbally agreed to a six-year deal with the West Londoners, with an announcement anticipated soon if the player joins on the dotted line.

If the transfer is completed, it will be a big coup for Chelsea and Pochettino, who are effectively at the start of a new era as they seek to recapture a spot in the top six of the Premier League standings at the very least.

While Colwill has only appeared in two of Chelsea's four pre-season friendly thus far, this is owing in part to his participation in the Under-21 European Championship, which ended on July 8.

With Wesley Fofana out for months with a knee injury and Benoit Badiashile still to play for the senior team in pre-season, Colwill looks certain to start alongside Thiago Silva against Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season.

Chelsea are close to signing Axel Disasi from Monaco, though the France international is unlikely to be rushed into the team against the Merseyside giants after receiving no playing time under Pochettino.

Trevoh Chalobah may now leave Chelsea if a good offer is made, despite being one of the club's most utilised players during the club's tour of the United States.

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