Chelsea have no plans to sell Levi Colwill this summer and plan to make the centre-half part of the first-team squad next season.
The highly-rated centre-half impressed on loan in the Championship with Huddersfield last season and has continued to show his quality with Brighton this term, making 10 appearances in the Premier League for the Seagulls.
Liverpool and Manchester City are interested in the England Under-21 international and hope to tempt Chelsea into doing business this summer, believing the Blues may need to sell to balance the books with more big spending expected at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have previously cashed in on defensive prospects with Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi impressing since leaving for AC Milan and Crystal Palace respectively in recent years.
However, PA Sport reports Chelsea will not consider a sale or further loans for Colwill and have an option to extend his contract by a further three years, which they intend to activate.
Brighton are also said to be keen to make their loan deal for Colwill permanent this summer with Roberto de Zerbi last week hailing his importance to the side.
‘I know the quality of Levi Colwill,’ De Zerbi said.
‘Levi is a left-footer and it is an important quality for us because with Levi we can find different line passes, different solutions in the build-up, in the last 40 metres.’
While Colwill is part of the club’s long-term plans, recent reports have suggested as many as nine Chelsea players could leave the club this summer.
The club will cash in on Mason Mount should they fail to agree a new deal with the midfielder, who has attracted interest from Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
N’Golo Kante meanwhile is approaching the end of his contract which expires this summer.
Academy graduates Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also among those who be moved along with Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also set to be deemed surplus to requirements.
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