Roma manager Claudio Ranieri has asked his new club to sign Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater in the summer, according to reports in Italy.

The 29-year-old has rarely featured under Blues boss Maurizio Sarri and Ranieri is keen to recruit his former Leicester City playmaker.

Drinkwater has only made one appearance this campaign, in the Community Shield defeat to Manchester City back in August.

Since then, the England international has made the bench just twice, in the 4-1 win against Cardiff back in September, and the 3-2 victory versus Derby in the Carabao Cup.

Injuries have also curtailed Drinkwater’s playing time with the Blues. After arriving in the summer of 2017 for £35m, he was carrying a thigh injury before then being struck down with a calf problem.

It meant he couldn’t make his debut until October, and he has had trouble staying fit ever since. Even so, whether he would have been given more game time under Sarri if he was 100% fit, it is doubtful.