Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he has held talks with 20 year old centre-back Levi Colwill over his Chelsea future.

The 20-year-old defender has been the subject of interest from Brighton but the Blues have rejected each of their advances, and insist he is not for sale.

Pochettino said: “With Levi, we were also talking. It was a nice talk.

“Of course, it was private like with other players but it is important that they need to know us, know what we think, to see that the competition will be tough but to challenge for that and know they can be in the starting XI. Because football is about competing.

“They understood and we understood what they wanted to translate to us. All is clear and we are happy with all the players we have in the USA.”