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Levi Colwill doesn't want to "discuss anything now" regarding a new contract with Chelsea, despite the Blues being in "control", claims transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Chelsea transfer news – What's the latest on Levi Colwill?

It was a season of contrasting fortunes for Colwill's home and loan club last season, with the former languishing down in 12th and seeing four different managers take the helm, whereas Brighton & Hove Albion thrived – despite losing their manager to Chelsea – qualifying for the Europa League.

It was the youth international's first taste of regular Premier League football after spending the 2021/22 season on loan in the Championship with Huddersfield Town.

With the loan being an unmitigated success, and in a bid not to lose the player, Brighton made a formal offer of £30m to Chelsea earlier this month, which the Pensioners firmly rejected.

However, that rejected offer has yet to totally resolve the situation, as the player has since refused to begin negotiations on a new deal, citing the desire to regularly play first-team football as his most important factor, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Romano explained the situation on his YouTube Channel, saying:

"Chelsea offered Levi Colwill a new contract, it was a verbal conversation with his agent, but from Levi Colwill's side, it was kind of 'wait, we don't want to discuss anything now', so Levi is not in negotiations with Chelsea now.

"It is not about the salary it's more about the project. Levi Colwill doesn't want to be a backup player, he wants to be an important player. He wants to have kind of guaranteed game time, he wants to feel important, otherwise he would be prepared to move, but the reality is also that Chelsea have no intention to negotiate. He still has a long contract at Chelsea, not super long, but long enough to allow Chelsea to control the situation, and they insist in saying that they want Levi Colwill as part of the project."

How good was Levi Colwill for Brighton & Hove Albion last season?

It's no real surprise that the Seagulls want to keep the 20-year-old at the Amex for next season, as he was brilliant for Roberto De Zerbi's side for much of the year.

According to WhoScored, the young centre-half – hailed as "special" by some in the media – averaged a respectable 6.54 across his 17 Premier League games for the Seagulls, initially struggling for minutes before firmly establishing himself in the team.

His underlying numbers are brilliant as well, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, ranking him in the top 1% of players for assists and attempted passes, the top 5% for non-penalty xG and aerial duals won, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top12% for progressive carries, all per 90.

With those numbers, it's clear to see that he is the perfect fit for De Zerbi's progressive style of football, and his manager seems to be well aware of that stating, "I know the quality of Levi Colwill."

Unfortunately for the Italian manager, Chelsea also sees very aware of the Southampton-born gem's quality, and it looks increasingly unlikely that he'll be playing anywhere other than west London next season.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane could be subject to another bid from Bayern Munich, with the Bundesliga club "working hard" to secure his signature, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham?

Kane has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to move to Bayern Munich, with his agent holding talks with the German champions in recent days, however their £60m bid was swiftly rejected by Tottenham.

The offer falls way short of Spurs' valuation of their talisman, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs recently tweeting: "Spurs have rejected Bayern's €70m plus add-ons offer for Harry Kane. Daniel Levy in no mood to sell, and certainly not for under £100m."

Although his contract is set to expire next summer, Levy is driving a hard bargain, and there have been reports the 29-year-old could be willing to let his current deal run out, before leaving the club on a free transfer in 2024.

At the moment, however, Bayern appear to be undeterred in their pursuit of the England international, and transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport he believes they could come back to the negotiating table soon:

"Information coming out of Germany is that Bayern have been working hard behind the scenes to understand the personal drive and ambitions of Harry Kane, and after weeks of exploration around his situation at Spurs, they had enough confidence to step forward and begin the bidding process to try and sign him.

"They know how difficult a deal like this might be, but they need a striker and want full clarification around the chances of getting him before they move on to their other prime targets Randal Kolo Muani and [Victor] Osimhen. The first offer is low but that just makes me think they will be back with another bid."

How much will Harry Kane cost?

According to The Telegraph, Tottenham may choose to cash-in on the Englishman, should they receive an offer of £80m from an overseas club, which indicates Bayern may not be too far off, leaving Levy with a huge decision to make.

It would be a risk to keep the £200k-per-week striker at the club for another year, in the hope that he is persuaded to sign a new contract, as losing him for free would be a real blow.

That said, even if Spurs do receive big money for Kane, it is extremely unlikely they will be able to find anyone capable of replacing him, considering his fantastic goal-scoring record, finding the back of the net 280 times in a total of 435 appearances for the club.

As such, Levy should hold firm for the time being, and only sanction the forward's departure if a bid comes in that is simply too good to refuse.

Italian football is blessed with an abundance of midfield talent.

Their Euro-winning side saw the likes of Marco Verratti, Jorginho, and Nicolo Barella play starring roles, whilst Sandro Tonali, Manuel Locatelli, and Davide Frattesi are also stupendously rising to international prominence.

Another dazzling prodigy that has emerged from the Azzurri production line is Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei.

Who is Cesare Casadei?

The 2003-born titan joined the Nerazzurri in 2018, where he swiftly moved through the youth ranks, winning a national U17 Championship the following year and being promoted to the U19s, despite being two years younger than the rest of the squad.

During the 2021/22 season, the 6 foot 1 ace made 30 appearances in the Italian Primavera Championship for Inter, the nation’s youth league, and notched 18 goal involvements.

The Blues then agreed to a £12.6m deal for the youngster to come to Stamford Bridge. He has begun his career in West London brightly, with netting five times in 13 outings for Chelsea U21s.

Most recently, in May 2023, the former Inter prodigy was included in his country’s squad that participated in the U20 World Cup. In Argentina, he was simply magnificent, as he scored seven goals, registered an 80% pass accuracy, made nine key passes, nine successful dribbles, and won 50 duels as his side lost in the final to Uruguay.

However, this was still deserved recognition for his string of imperious performances as he received the Golden Ball and Golden Boot, as the most valuable player and the top scorer of the tournament.

Maurizio Viscidi, Italy’s National Youth Team Coordinator, who has witnessed Casadei’s extraordinary growth, said: “He’s a modern midfielder, because out of all the youth team midfielders he’s been the one with the greatest aptitude for attacking runs and goalscoring.

“He’s also strong in the air, something that’s unusual among younger players. Given his ability to enter and give a presence in the area he’s the strongest player currently within the Azzurri’s youth sector.”

Due to his reputation as an outstanding free-scoring midfielder, an obvious comparison has been made to club legend Frank Lampard.

The Englishman scored 211 goals from his deep-lying, box-to-box midfield berth, and Casadei’s similar height, physicality, frame, and athleticism means he is more than capable of repeating some comparable feats.

Whilst it would be foolish to suggest that anyone could replicate Lampard’s record-breaking statistics, there is nothing to disprove Casadei’s limitless potential from the middle of the park.

Described as someone with “crazy potential” and a “diamond” by Andrea Zanchetta, Inter’s U18 coach, Casadei is destined for unadulterated greatness and his transfer has been a rare victory for Chelsea’s new ownership.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou could start life in London with a bang by completing the signing of Bristol City teenager Alex Scott.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Aston Villa?

According to journalist Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – Tottenham have invested time and attention to the development of Scott this year and could now look to make their move to tie up a deal with the transfer window in full swing.

He said: "One of the stories to look out for this summer involves Alex Scott. He has been coveted by loads of Premier League teams previously, including Tottenham and Leeds, but at the moment, no one seems willing to offer the £25m Bristol City want for him.

“He’s a really good player, so I think it's only a matter of time before something happens.”

Tottenham have been credited with an interest in the 19-year-old since March following Bristol City's defeat to eventual champions Manchester City in the FA Cup, earning praise for his "fearless" performance by The Times' Henry Winter.

Bournemouth, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are also vying for his signature, but Postecoglou will be determined to sign a prodigious talent who could catalyse the club's desired resurgence.

Should Tottenham sign Alex Scott?

Hailed as the "Guernsey Grealish" for his striking resemblance to the City phenom, Jack Grealish, Scott has exhibited his prowess in dribbling and ball-carrying, with his display against the Sky Blues setting him apart from the swathes of hopefuls, earning a Sofascore match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels,

Given that Manchester City's £100m man also remarked that Scott is a "top talent", he seems to have the approval of a man distinguished and admired as one of the Premier League's most naturally talented players around, capable of petrifying opposition with his gliding gait.

This season, he recorded an average league rating of 6.83, making 40 starting appearances, scoring one goal and supplying four assists, completing 79% of his passes and making 1.8 tackles per game.

As per FBref, given that he ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons per 90, he could well emulate Grealish as he continues his burgeoning rise.

Grealish, comparatively, ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries per 90, which only further illustrates the superlative company Scott finds his name likened to.

While Tottenham have failed in their endeavours this season and concluded the campaign with an eighth-placed finish, thus confirming an absence from European competition to strike a detrimental blow to hopes of brighter fortunes.

Scott's acquisition could be a turning point, unleashing a new wave of prosperity on a proud football club desperate for silverware once more.

Celtic have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Leighton Clarkson, with news from Football Insider reporter David Lynch that Aberdeen are now leading the race for the player's signature.

Are Celtic linked with Leighton Clarkson?

The current Liverpool player was given the chance to shine out on loan in the 2022/23 season, joining up with Aberdeen on a short-term basis to get valuable first-team minutes. He went on to manage more games than ever before in his career, featuring on 34 occasions as the side finished in third place. The 21-year-old also managed a haul of five goals and eight assists along the way – career best totals for the youngster.

Prior to his spell in the Scottish Premiership, his only other gametime had come during a loan with Blackburn. He managed only seven league games for the Championship side though and couldn't produce any goals or assists.

Given plenty of minutes in Scotland, he impressed many and there is now a race for his signature. Celtic are one of the clubs that had been mentioned as having a keen interest in the player this summer, with the Hoops eager to add him to their ranks.

Even though the club have been managerless, Brendan Rodgers is now close to securing the job and he could have been one of the first signings to arrive for the new boss.

However, according to a report from Football Insider, Celtic – and perhaps Rodgers – will not get their wish.

That's because Aberdeen are believed to now be leading the race to sign him above the league winners and it means that they could now miss out on his signature. Having had the player on loan last season, the Dons have the advantage of knowing the youngster well and it would likely not take much for him to slot back in.

Has Leighton Clarkson played for Liverpool?

The 21-year-old has never managed to play in the Premier League for Liverpool and it now appears that he could be off in pursuit of regular first-team football. It's unclear how much he would cost the interested parties, although CIES Football Observatory suggest his value is around 5 million Euros (or £4.2m).

It means that any deal would likely not break the bank for Clarkson and he could be a bargain deal for any club that does sign him. Considering the player is now experienced in Scotland and has the ability to both score and assist in the league, he looks like he could be a solid purchase for any club – and Celtic likely wouldn't be happy to therefore see him join Aberdeen.

Arsenal have been linked to a number of players ahead of the transfer window, with a potential option at right-back emerging as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The Gunners will be keen to make improvements in the window, after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City this season.

Adding depth in quality to the squad is key for the Spaniard over the summer, something that he could begin by signing the latest player in question.

What’s the latest on Sacha Boey to Arsenal?

As reported by the Telegraph late last month, Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey has gained interest from north London after a strong season in Turkey.

Since the initial news broke regarding Arsenal’s interest, GIVEMESPORT have revealed via Fabrizio Romano that the club are ‘informed’ on the conditions surrounding the €25m (£22m) price tag placed on the defender by the Turkish champions.

Despite multiple news sources linking the player and club, Romano noted that the situation remains ‘quiet’, with no direct contact made between the Gunners and the players’ agent yet.

What could Sacha Boey bring to Arsenal?

Hailed as “tireless” by journalist Cetin Cem Yilmaz, the 22-year-old has been a revelation for the Turkish giants since signing from Rennes in the summer of 2021.

The young defender could be a revelation for Arsenal and could not only challenge the likes of Ben White defensively but could take Bukayo Saka to the next level in forming a partnership on the right flank.

At just 21 years old, the English forward has been one of the Premier League’s best players this season, scoring 14 goals and assisting 11 in 38 appearances, via FBref.

There are many elements to the wingers’ game that see him thrive in Arteta’s set-up, however, his partnership with White has played a significant factor in his growth this campaign.

Lauded as providing “top class” runs to support Saka out wide in attack, the English duo have unlocked a new side to Arsenal, making them one of the most threatening duos in the league from the wide areas.

However, as claimed by Football Insider, Arteta could hand White a new role centrally next season, which could open doors for Boey who in theory could take Saka to a new level if he takes the reins from White.

The Frenchman is a danger from the back when getting forward, which benefits the Arsenal forward, who ranks in the top 2% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to receiving progressive passes, with an average of 14.61 per 90 – as per FBref.

While White has been direct in Saka’s progression, Boey ranks better in creative scenarios than the Englishman, averaging one key pass per game to the former Brighton man’s 0.7, and creating eight big chances to his six – as per Sofascore.

There is still room for progression for the formidable youngster, who could reach the heights of Mohamed Salah who was integral to Liverpool’s title win in 2020, who averaged a monstrous 0.50 goals per 90, with Saka averaging 0.33 this season – as per FBref.

His improvement could be the difference in Arsenal’s ability to win the title next campaign.

Having a style of play that identifies his favour to play short passes, as per WhoScored, the Galatasaray gem could form a deadly partnership with Saka, who could become even more unplayable in his presence as a significantly strong attacking full-back.

Joao Felix has dropped a possible hint about one day maybe playing in MLS as his future remains undecided having returned to Atletico Madrid after his loan at Chelsea.

Who will Joao Felix join this summer?

The 22-year-old didn't quite live up to the hype in the Premier League and he leaves the Blues have picked up one red card, scored four goals, and delivered zero assists in 20 games across all competitions.

Despite that, there will likely still be a number of teams who want to sign the player as manager Diego Simeone has suggested that Felix could be off in the summer.

He told Partidazo Cope (via Goal): "It is necessary to see if economically it is good for the club. I no longer enter there. He is a boy who has qualities, who plays well, who everyone talks about and hopefully he can crush it. With us he has always had peaks, he has had bad luck with injuries."

On top of that, though, Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has stated that Chelsea won't be signing Felix permanently and so his future remains up in the air.

The Portuguese international has been active on social media recently, and the images could suggest he's keen on playing in MLS one day – even if that's not likely to happen particularly soon.

Indeed, Felix posted several photos of himself playing tennis in a Charlotte FC shirt on his Instagram page.

Why was Felix wearing a Charlotte FC shirt?

In the photos, the 22-year-old can be seen wearing a shirt with the name Nuno Santos on the back – he is Felix's former Benfica team-mate who now plays for Charlotte.

And so, perhaps this is just a reunion of old friends as opposed to any major transfer hint that might tell us which step the player will take next in his career.

Even so, you can never rule anything out in football. What's more, even if Felix doesn't head to America this summer, his now evident connections with MLS could mean a move might happen at some point in the future.

For now, though, it does seem more likely that he'll either remain in Madrid or find another big European club to impress at next summer.

For instance, one recent rumour suggests he could be heading back to the Premier League but this time he'll get a chance to impress with Newcastle United.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are not in the most enviable financial situation at present, and opulent Newcastle United could look to exploit their rivals' woes and swoop for forward Hwang Hee-chan.

What's the latest on Hwang Hee-chan to Newcastle?

According to The Mirror, Newcastle – alongside Tottenham Hotspur – have emerged as surprise candidates for the transfer of the South Korean phenom, with manager Julen Lopetegui under pressure to thin his squad out amid monetary worries.

Wolves' manager's own future is cast into doubt following FFP troubles at Molineux, and Newcastle, who have qualified for the Champions League this season, could mount a transfer charge for a player who could supplement the flowing Tyneside fold.

While not the most prolific ace around, Hwang would be a dynamic addition to Eddie Howe's thriving outfit, and having cost the Old Gold only £14m in January 2022, his signing could be a shrewd one.

Should Newcastle sign Hwang Hee-chan?

While many Magpies supporters will be optimistic that 'marquee' signings can be made this summer, Howe is unlikely to scrap the formula that has crafted such a sturdy foundation ahead of an ostensibly illustrious future.

Some of the biggest success stories on Tyneside this term consist of Dan Burn (£13m), Nick Pope (£10m) and, of course, Kieran Trippier (£12m), with the latter bestowed the honour of the club's Player of the Season, although any one of the regulars on the pitch could stake a claim for the award.

Hwang could etch his name onto this list with a move, having now forged 62 appearances with Wolves and plundered nine goals and four assists after joining from RB Leipzig.

He would be an "exceptional" signing – as he was lauded by former Liefering and Salzburg head coach Peter Zeidler – providing cover and adding a dimension when called upon with his distinctive skill set.

His defensive acumen would also be an invaluable addition to United's set-up, with the 51-cap star ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of tackles, the top 9% for rate of interceptions and the top 1% for rate of blocks per 90, as per FBref.

His "brutal dynamism", as also proclaimed by Zeidler, would only enrich Newcastle's offensive pool and offers shades of one Roberto Firmino, with the iconic forward's versatility and selfless exploits at Anfield integral in the success of Jurgen Klopp's outfit over the past several years.

That likeness between the pair was noted by the Bundesliga's official website, which claimed that 'Hwang is not dissimilar to Liverpool's former Hoffenheim striker Firmino', while also stating:

'Comfortable with both feet, with the strength to hold off an opponent and the pace to exploit space, he could cause problems for many a Bundesliga defence – just like Brazil international Firmino did before him.'

Completing 81% of his passes in the Premier League last year and 78% this term, as per WhoScored, Hwang boasts a similar assurance to his Brazilian counterpart, who ranks among the top 9% of forwards for pass completion, while also utilising his 'dynamic' flair to open up opportunities for the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

While Hwang is not the biggest star in the Premier League, his signature would be an astute addition, one which could provide further success for Newcastle next season.

Tottenham Hotspur have a ‘long-standing interest’ in Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey and have previously made enquiries over a potential move for him, Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has claimed.

The Lowdown: Conte’s transfer plans

As per The Telegraph, Antonio Conte is expected to be very active in the transfer market this summer. As such, the Italian will demand at least six new signings from Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

According to The Athletic, the 52-year-old has made two new wing-backs his ‘next priority’, behind the addition of a left-sided centre-back.

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The Latest: Spurs interest in Lamptey

Bridge has revealed that Tottenham are once again interested in signing Lamptey, having previously tried to lure him away from the Amex Stadium last June.

Spurs have seemingly made enquiries for the Brighton youngster again, with the Seagulls apparently responding with lofty valuations for the player.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the Sky Sports reporter claimed: “Tottenham have had a long-standing interest in Tariq Lamptey. But they’ve been quoted crazy figures for a very good full-back, but someone who’s had his own injury problems.”

The Verdict: Promising talent

Seven-time FA Cup-winning full-back Ashley Cole has been extremely impressed with the 21-year-old’s performances in the Premier League in recent years, having stated that “he’s been quality how dangerous he is”.

Ranking in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and the 97th percentile for progressive passes received (via FBRef), Lamptey’s attacking nature would complement Conte’s style of play very well.

Indeed, the Italian will already know just how good a defender the 21-year-old is, too. When Brighton defeated Spurs 1-0 in recent weeks, Lamptey restricted direct opponent and Golden Boot contender Son Heung-min to just two shots all afternoon, both of which were blocked (as per Sofascore).

Therefore, this would seem like a brilliant signing for Spurs if they can get a deal over the line.

In other news: Sky Sports reporter backs Pau Torres/Spurs claims

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Premier League rivals Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Mason Mount ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to reports, via TEAMtalk, both Liverpool and Manchester City are watching the 23-year-old closely ahead of the transfer window with Chelsea unable to extend the Englishman’s current contract amid government sanctions put on the west London club.

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Mount has just two years left on his contract and is, according to the report, one of Chelsea’s lowest-paid players on £70k-per-week.

Therefore, the attacking midfielder could be tempted to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Liverpool should swoop for Mount

Very quickly, Mount has established himself as one of not only England’s but Europe’s most exciting prospects.

After successful loan spells at Vitesse Arnhem and Derby County, the now-23-year-old was integrated into the Chelsea first-team under Frank Lampard in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since.

In almost three seasons, the midfielder has made 156 appearances for Chelsea’s first team, having gone through the youth ranks, in which time he has scored 29 goals and registered 30 assists.

However, this campaign has seen the Englishman step up a level, netting 12 goals and providing 15 assists in 49 matches, his best season in front of goal.

Although Liverpool are already a goal machine, with the Reds the top scorers in the Premier League so far this campaign with 86 goals in 34 matches, Jurgen Klopp will always be keen to add quality to his squad depth and replace any potential outgoings.

Moreover, the German could reignite a relationship similar to the one he had at Dortmund with Marco Reus, with the 32-year-old deemed similar to Mount by FBRef.

Therefore, the 23-year-old could become an absolute monster if he was to swap west London for Merseyside, with the Reds just one point behind league leaders Manchester City with four matches to go.

The £67.5m-rated attacking midfielder, who was deemed to have the “full package” by manager Thomas Tuchel last season, will have to make a decision on his future with the Blues soon.

Moreover, if the imposed sanctions are to stay in place for a significant period of time, Mount may have no other choice but to join Liverpool and become Klopp’s brand new Reus.

AND in other news: Bid accepted: Liverpool now facing major setback that will surely have Klopp fuming