Rio says no chance Man Utd can sign Chelsea star ‘100 per cent’ better than established duo

Rio Ferdinand says Chelsea youngster Levi Colwill is already better than Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile, and insists Manchester United have no chance of signing him.

Colwill has spent this season on loan at Brighton from Chelsea, initially watching mainly from the sidelines under Graham Potter, but has forced his way into the reckoning under Roberto De Zerbi, starting the majority of games he’s been available for in the second half of the season.

When asked about Colwill’s future at Brighton, De Zerbi said: “I would like to work with him for another two, three, four years.

“It’s difficult to find a another centre-back, left centre-back, with his quality.

“He’s a good guy, I think he’s improving a lot. This year his improvement has been fantastic.

“I hope he can stay with us.”

Reports suggest Colwill is part of Chelsea’s plans next season, with reports claiming the defender is in a group of players Mauricio Pochettino wants to ‘build around’.

Chelsea have spent a huge amount of money on centre-backs this year, with Kalidou Koulibaly joining from Napoli for £33m, Badiashile coming in from Monaco for £35m and Wesley Fofana swapping Leicester for the Blues in a £72m deal.

And having watched his displays for Brighton, in particular his showing against Arsenal, Ferdinand is already convinced he is Chelsea’s best young option in defence.

Asked whether Man Utd could move for Colwill, Ferdinand told VIBE: “We ain’t getting him, he’s at Chelsea. They ain’t going to sell him.

“I think he is the best one they’ve got at Chelsea. He’s better than Fofana and I think he’s better than Badiashile.

“Have you seen the way he is playing for Brighton? He has gone to Brighton, his team is higher than Chelsea.

“He is playing unbelievably well in that team. Did you see the way he was slapping that ball around yesterday [on Sunday against Arsenal]?

“This season, Collwill has been better than Fofana and Badiashile. 100 per cent.”

The centre-half has two years left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge with Liverpool and Manchester City both reportedly interested in signing him.

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