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Add as preferred source on Google<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAhead of Xabi Alonso\u2019s arrival at Chelsea, the Spaniard will have picked the players in the current squad that he would like to keep. Levi Colwill will surely be at the top of that list.<\/strong><\/p>\n Following the announcement that Alonso would be Chelsea\u2019s next manager, the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager is reported to have told BlueCo to keep Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella.<\/p>\n There will be others on that list. Barcelona want Joao Pedro, but Alonso will be desperate to keep the club\u2019s Player of the Season. Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Reece James are indispensable to Chelsea.<\/p>\n As is the returning Levi Colwill. The England star is back from his long-term knee injury, but he did not even make the squad against Tottenham, given he had played against Liverpool and Manchester City.<\/p>\n But in those games, despite almost a year out, Colwill was superb. He reminded Chelsea fans just how good he is; there is no doubt he is Chelsea\u2019s best centre-back. Losing Colwill again would be a blow.<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s defence has suffered without Colwill this season. Just four clean sheets in Liam Rosenior\u2019s 23-game spell and a failure to keep a clean sheet in the last 15 league games prove Chelsea need Colwill.<\/p>\n But with the Champions League now off the table, Spanish site Marca says Real Madrid and Barcelona could test Chelsea\u2019s resolve around Colwill ahead of the summer. The two clubs want to sign a defender.<\/p>\n If there was any concern that Colwill would need time, or he would need a few months playing football to regain his quality, he has quickly rubbished that. His immediate form could tempt Madrid and Barcelona.<\/p>\n Both sides, including Alonso\u2019s old team, are looking for a centre-back this summer. Madrid need to bring in a replacement for Antonio Rudiger, and there are some suggestions that Colwill could become a target.<\/p>\n Chelsea go into the summer window with a contract until the summer of 2029 for Colwill, meaning they are under no pressure to sell the England defender. Colwill, though, is a Champions League defender.<\/p>\n Palmer says the Chelsea squad are excited by Alonso\u2019s arrival and Colwill will certainly be keen to find out what life is like at Chelsea with the former Liverpool, Bayern, Real Madrid and Sociedad man in charge.<\/p>\n But the lure of Real Madrid and Barcelona is always tempting. Chelsea are not currently in talks to extend Colwill\u2019s contract, but reports do say the Blues may open talks to offer him a new contract in due course.<\/p>\n Chelsea\u2019s inability to qualify for the Champions League also prevents a financial burden, and the need to sell players has grown. But, Alonso will not want to lose Colwill going into the 2026-27 campaign.<\/p>\nWho should be Levi Colwill\u2019s centre-back partner next season?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Gary](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/04\/Levi-Colwill-Gary-Cahill-819x1024.png\")
<\/div>Real Madrid and Barcelona could target Levi Colwill<\/h2>\n
![\"Levi](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2276645442-1024x769.jpg\")
<\/div>Where do Chelsea stand with Levi Colwill\u2019s contract?<\/h2>\n
If Chelsea have to sell this summer, which ONE are you sacrificing?\ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Xabi](\"https:\/\/cdn1.thechelseachronicle.com\/uploads\/17\/2026\/05\/FOUR-LINE-quote-graphic-10-819x1024.png\")
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