2015-16 Premier League winners Leicester City have reportedly told Chelsea to hand over the transfer fee that they acquired by selling Nemanja Matic, if the Blues want to land Danny Drinkwater at Stamford Bridge.
According to the Telegraph, Chelsea will have to pay £40 million for Danny Drinkwater, if they want to land the 27-year old at Stamford Bridge in the final fortnight of the transfer window.
The player is interested in signing for the Blues, but with four years still left on his contract, the Foxes will settle for nothing less than the amount that Chelsea earned from selling Matic. Chelsea’s previous £15 million bid for the player was rejected, but with the transfer window shutting soon, the Champions are desperate for reinforcements.
Reportedly, this led them to making a £25 million bid for Drinkwater, but Leicester have made their demands clear to the Blues. Chelsea sold the rock-solid Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in what is considered to be a bizarre move from Antonio Conte.
The Serbian – alongside N’Golo Kante – expertly shielded Chelsea’s back-three last season and helped them to their fifth Premier League title.
Roman Abramovic acquired the services of 23-year old Tiémoué Bakayoko from Monaco, and once the Frenchman is deemed fit to play, he is expected to take up Matic’s role at Stamford Bridge. The injury to Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas’ suspension has forced Conte to strengthen his midfield.
Although Kante is the best in the business when it comes to breaking and linking play, he isn’t as good as Matic with the ball at his feet.
And while Chelsea have the creative guile of Fabregas, the Spaniard isn’t the most efficient player off the ball. Danny Drinkwater could be the perfect man for Conte to have up his sleeve, as the Manchester-born midfielder is decent both on and off the ball.
In other departments, Juventus are unlikely to sell Alex Sandro to Chelsea at this stage of the transfer window, even if Chelsea are willing to make it an expensive affair. Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also been on Chelsea’s radar, but Arsene Wenger has come clear on the subject saying he has no intention of selling the pacy winger.
