Liverpool target Levi Colwill is the ‘new John Terry’, who rejected Chelsea contract, idolised Steven Gerrard and is England U21s star

There is a very real chance that Levi Colwill is going to be the future of England’s defence.

The Chelsea starlet cut his teeth out on loan with Brighton during the 2022/23 season, and talkSPORT understands the Blues have offered him a new long-term contract.

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However, he turned down a similar deal from his club earlier this year, so his future is very much up in the air.

Brighton have seen two bids rejected for the 20-year-old, while Liverpool are huge admirers of the young defender.

The central defender was born in Southampton and became best friends with German international Jamal Musiala.

The pair played together for City Central FC, and he shares a birthday with the mercurial Bayern Munich ace.

Speaking to Goal about Musiala, he said: “Yes, he was definitely one of my best friends.

“We keep in touch still now and he is a good mate. It is amazing to see what he has achieved so far. It gives me goosebumps every time because I have been through everything he has been through, all that grind.”

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His talent at City Central FC shone through, and Chelsea snapped him up.

He joined the Blues’ Under-9s and has been there ever since.

At international level, he has played for the Young Lions from Under-15s onwards but is yet to make his senior debut, although that can’t be far off.

Naturally, as a young English centre-back making his way through the Chelsea academy, he has earned comparisons to Blues legend John Terry.

Plus, while on loan at Huddersfield, he wore the iconic number 26 shirt, although he insists that is because of his birthday.

But the Terry tag is one that he welcomes, saying: “I’ll take it.

“I’m not going to complain. It’s not a bad thing to be called the new John Terry.

“I haven’t made the comparison myself, so the fans and media can make whatever comparisons they want to make, it isn’t going to affect me.

“John Terry is a club legend and leader, someone every centre-back at Chelsea should look up to.”

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But it was a Premier League legend from another team that inspired Colwill while he was growing up.

Steven Gerrard was Colwill’s childhood idol and spoke about him while playing for Huddersfield.

He said: “Growing up, it was always Steven Gerrard who I loved seeing and how he used to lead.

“I was amazed by him and I used to have his pictures up in my room. I always used to copy him before training or even in matches. I would dress in the same boots as him.

“I looked up to him. I wasn’t a central midfielder, but I wanted his mentality.”

He has demonstrated this elite mentality on many occasions during his early career.

Colwill led the Terriers to the Championship play-off final with his excellent ball-carrying and incisive passing as he became a leader in the defence despite still being a teenager.

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But it was while he was on loan at Brighton that Colwill came into his own.

Playing under Roberto De Zerbi, he thrived and played a vital role in starting off attacks and conducting the build-up phase.

He has carried that form into the Euro U21 Championships with England.

The 20-year-old has started three of the Young Lions’ four matches so far and has helped guide them to the semi-finals, where they face Israel live on talkSPORT 2.

England are yet to concede a goal and that is largely down to Colwill’s organisation and positional play.

If he helps Lee Carsley’s men go on and claim Euro glory, then Colwill’s stock will continue to rise and senior international honours will be sure to follow.

At club level, Chelsea see him as a key part of the future, but unless they guarantee him game time, a move away is possible because a player this good has to be starting week in, week out.