Chelsea could be bracing themselves for a series of bids, as four Premier League rivals vie for the services of £30 million-rated Danny Drinkwater.

According to the latest report from Transfermarketweb, four Premier League clubs have garnered a serious interest in Chelsea’s Danny Drinkwater. The English midfielder has been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge after being deemed surplus to the requirements by the newly appointed Maurizio Sarri.

As a result, the likes of Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham United and his former club Leicester City have started showing a keen interest in securing his services before the transfer window slams shut. Chelsea, however, will be reluctant to sell the midfielder for anything less than £30 million.

Although Chelsea would definitely lack depth in the midfield department should they sell Drinkwater this summer, the move probably makes sense for all parties involved. Drinkwater, in particular, went through a horrid season after initially joining the Blues on a big-money move last summer and a transfer will likely provide him with a perfect opportunity to redeem himself.

After arriving at Stamford Bridge, his career was marred by thigh problems and calf strains – injuries, that kept him out for 130 days during his first season at the club.  For that reason, the former Leicester City superstar could only accumulate five Premier League starts under his belt last season, only three of which were full matches. And following the arrival of Sarri, Drinkwater’s future at Chelsea look fairly uncertain.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Danny Drinkwater looks on before the preseason friendly match between Leicester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach at The King Power Stadium on August 4, 2017 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Time for a change? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Despite boasting excellent work-ethic and tenacity, the 28-year-old is definitely a mismatch in Sarri’s tactical philosophy due to his lack of ball-carrying qualities. The Italian mastermind has already insisted that the Blues lack a pinch of quality in midfield, hinting that the arrival of another quality midfielder is a likely event. This could further reduce the chances of him making a breakthrough at Chelsea next season.

Thus, a move away from Stamford Bridge is certainly a logical choice and Palace, in that regard, could be an ideal destination as he seeks to resurrect his career. The Eagles lack depth in the midfield department following the departure of Yohan Cabaye and despite the pending arrival of Max Meyer, Drinkwater shouldn’t have much difficulty in establishing himself as a regular fixture in the starting eleven.

The 28-year-old can be deployed alongside the reliable Luka Milivojevic in Roy Hodgson’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with Meyer operating as the number ten. Alternatively, he can also operate alongside Meyer and Milivojevic in a three-man midfield chain of a 4-3-3 formation.

His work ethic and tenacity will surely complement the all-round abilities of Milivojevic and the ball-playing qualities of Meyer – a prospect that could certainly spark up Crystal Palace’s midfield next season. However, it remains to be seen if the Eagles will manage to pip their Premier League rivals in order to land the Chelsea superstar this summer.

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