After a disastrous start to the season, Tottenham Hotspur have started to hit their stride, recording three Premier League wins in a row ahead of Saturday’s testing trip to Leeds United.

One area where they struggled earlier in the campaign was defence, with summer signings Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi torn to shreds in the opening weekend defeat to Brentford. However, things have become better defensively of late, with skipper Micky van de Ven developing a good chemistry with compatriot Van Hecke in central defence.

The Dutch duo have helped Spurs keep clean sheets in the wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Despite that, a fresh report from England claims that the Lilywhites are still hunting more defensive recruits and have eyes on a Chelsea star in particular.

Chelsea ready to end speculation surrounding defender amid Tottenham interest

According to an exclusive report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea are ready to open contract talks with Levi Colwill and end speculation surrounding his future. The English defender is a target for Tottenham and Liverpool, but the Blues are expected to tie him down to a long-term deal.

Levi Colwill impressed on loan with Huddersfield Town and Brighton before returning to his boyhood club and becoming a regular in Chelsea’s senior side. He has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most impressive young defenders since breaking into the Pensioners’ first team in 2023. The English defender has been a mainstay in new boss Xabi Alonso’s system, making eight league appearances to date.

Talk of a new contract emerged earlier in the summer, and now the Pensioners are keen to find a solution to Colwill’s long-term future. Chelsea are wary of interest from Tottenham and Liverpool and want to end speculation surrounding his future by tying the 23-year-old down to a long-term deal. The report adds that the West Londoners hope to reach an agreement with the player in 2027, preferably in the first half of the year.

Blow for Spurs

This news will come as a relief for Chelsea fans after several clubs have been circling for their star defender’s signature. Spurs are one of those clubs, having been impressed by the defender’s performances in the last couple of seasons. The five-cap England international has caught the eye with his technical ability, composure, reading of the game and leadership, demonstrating that he has the potential to become one of the finest defenders in the Premier League.

Tottenham have been looking for further defensive reinforcements, and Colwill’s rising stature made him an appealing candidate for De Zerbi. However, with Chelsea planning to open contract talks with their academy star, that immediately ends all speculation.