The ManicaPost
Leicester City want £40 million from Chelsea for Danny Drinkwater.
The 27-year-old signed an improved deal last summer and has four years left on his contract but is keen to join the Premier League champions.
Chelsea, who have had one bid rejected, are set to offer £25 million plus add-ons.
That will be rejected but an offer closer to £30 million plus add-ons could trigger a breakthrough.
Manager Antonio Conte wants to bolster his options following the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United and has drawn up a list of targets.
England international Drinkwater is on that list as well as Renato Sanches at Bayern Munich, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain at Arsenal and Everton’s Ross Barkley.
The 27-year old Drinkwater, who would also boost Chelsea’s home-grown contingent, signed a four-year contract at Leicester and is key to Craig Shakespeare’s plans.
Though he would be interested in a move to Chelsea he is conscious he could end up with a peripheral role as Conte aims to pair Tiemoue Bakayoko with N’Golo Kante as his midfield engine room of choice.
Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna have offered to take Diego Costa on loan from Atletico Madrid should they conclude a transfer from Chelsea. Atletico can’t register players until 2018. – Daily Mail.
