Danny Drinkwater hands in transfer request amid Chelsea interest

Danny Drinkwater made it official yesterday: He wants a move away from the King Power today or tomorrow. The England international has kept mum on Antonio Conte’s rumoured interest in bringing him to Stamford Bridge, but any doubt as to his desires was removed when he handed in a transfer request last evening.

Chelsea have been interested in bringing Drinkwater to north London since offloading Nemanja Matić to Manchester United earlier this summer. Blues’ manager Conte is said to be keen on reigniting the partnership between the Leicester midfielder and former Fox N'Golo Kanté. Additionally, Chelsea seem to have just became aware of UEFA’s Homegrown Player Rule, which was adopted in England in 2010.

Whether or not Chelsea will meet City’s £40 valuation remains to be seen. Reports suggest that the most recent bid is between £25 and £30. The fact that the Manchester United man has turned in a request adds a sense of urgency to the proceedings, but there’s still a substantial gap in the money to be made up.

Chelsea have also expressed interest in bringing Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez into the fold with a rumoured £46.5 bid being readied. Should this (admittedly unlikely) rumour pan out, Chelsea would have three of the four starting midfielders from Leicester City’s championship season. Expect to hear reports of Marc Albrighton’s move to Stamford Bridge later this afternoon.