Chelsea Chasing 40m Star

Chelsea Chasing 40m Star

Chelsea’s pursuit of Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater may have taken a hit, after the Foxes announced they want £40 million for the 27-year-old.

Drinkwater signed an improved deal last summer and has four years left on his contract, however it is reported that he is keen to join Chelsea.

The Blues have already had a £25m bid rejected, with Leicester wanting a fee closer to £40m. It is believed that Antonio Conte’s side could offer a fee of up to £30m plus add-ons, which might be considered by Leicester.

Manager Antonio Conte has not had the best transfer window. Despite signing four players relatively early on, the Blues have sold or loaned out a flurry of stars – leaving the squad looking very thin. Conte will hope to sign a holding midfielder before the transfer window shuts, following the bizarre sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United. It is believed that Conte has a list of players he wants to replace the Serbian, and Drinkwater tops that list.

Former Manchester United academy graduate Drinkwater is a proven Premier League midfielder who played an integral part in Leicester City’s title winning campaign. His addition to Chelsea would boost their homegrown numbers, and provide back up to French duo Tiemoue Bakayoko and N’Golo Kante in the midfield.

The biggest potential stumbling block is of course the fee. But with time running out until the end of the transfer window, perhaps it is time for the Blues to just cough up.