Leicester City demanding £40m for Chelsea target Danny Drinkwater

Chelsea have been quoted £40m in their pursuit of England international midfielder Danny Drinkwater, according to the Daily Mail.

The defending Premier League champions, who slumped to a surprise 3-2 defeat to the hands of Burnley at Stamford Bridge in their opening 2017-18 top-flight campaign, have been continuously linked with a move for the Leicester City star before the close of the summer transfer window this month.

The 27-year-old, who has three international caps for The Three Lions, missed The Foxes’ Premier League opener at Arsenal last Friday due to a pulled thigh muscle.

Drinkwater, who arrived at the King Power Stadium back in 2012 following his move from Manchester United, scored one goal and provided three assists in 43 appearances in all competitions for Craig Shakespeare’s side last season.

Leicester’s Drinkwater (right).

The report suggests Blues boss Antonio Conte wants the Englishman at Stamford Bridge to fill the void left by Nemanja Matic’s sale to Manchester United earlier this summer, and is preparing a £25m offer, plus add-ons.

However, Leicester value the central midfielder at £40m, who still has four years remaining on his current contract and played a key role in The Foxes’ fairy tale 2015-16 title triumph.

Chelsea have signed goalkeeper Willy Caballero (Manchester City), Antonio Rudiger (Roma), Tiemoue Bakayoko (Monaco) and Alvaro Morata (Real Madrid) this transfer window.