Drinkwater frustrated with life at Chelsea, and the feeling’s mutual — report

While it’s a popular past time to question Chelsea’s transfer business and intentions, the acquisition of Danny Drinkwater on transfer deadline last summer was met with even more than the usual amount of skepticism and derision. It took a transfer request and £35 million to prize the midfielder away from Leicester City, though neither of those things necessarily fit the public perception of his skills despite his fruitful partnership with N’Golo Kante during the Foxes’ title-winning season.

Unfortunately for Danny, things have not gone to plan for him at Chelsea and the unwashed masses have been mostly proven right. In fairness, he was injured for several months at the beginning, which certainly didn’t help him settle, but even when he got his handful of opportunities as a starter or a substitute, he has largely failed to impress.

The frustrations with Danny never got to the levels of Bakayoko, but that was a rather low bar to clear. For £35 million, it’s hard to not be frustrated and disappointed.

Drinkwater himself apparently feels the same, with reports today claiming that he’s “growing increasingly frustrated” at Chelsea and “could consider his future” this summer. Those are the words from the Telegraph and while Double D’s decisions could depend on who the head coach will be next season, the sentiment (and his prospects) might not change too much. He arrived for the challenge of proving himself on the big stage. That hasn’t happened yet, and at 28, it might not in the future either, especially if Chelsea plan on dipping back into the transfer market for the likes of Seri or someone even younger, while also continuing to develop and keep faith in Bakayoko (not selling him despite vague rumors of a Monaco return).

In fact, the timing of these stories could very well be a reaction to the reports of Chelsea making inquires about Seri, although that move could be complicated by the Nice midfielder’s apparent (physical) problem with cold climates. But (so far) Drinkwater has not shown why Chelsea went to so much trouble to get him last summer. Perhaps he will next season, if he gets his chance(s) ... but as things stand, it would not be a big loss if he didn’t.