Danny Drinkwater already linked with January exit from Chelsea

Since joining Chelsea a little over a year ago, Danny Drinkwater has made just a dozen starts in all competitions, added one fewer substitute appearances (including in this season’s Community Shield), in what has altogether amounted to a very disappointing £35m transfer for both club and player. And that situation isn’t likely to improve at the moment.

In fact, with Chelsea adding Jorginho (transfer), Mateo Kovačić (loan), and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (loan return) this summer, and with Ross Barkley back healthy and motivated, Drinkwater has found himself firmly at the bottom of the pile of midfielders vying for an already limited amount of minutes. When Cesc Fàbregas returns from injury, Drinkwater’s prospects could drop even lower. Seven players for three positions is at least one too many.

In light of that, it’s not surprising that the 28-year-old former Leicester City midfielder is the first player to be linked with a January transfer since the summer transfer/loan window ended on Friday. And while it’s just the Express reporting this, the rumor itself makes sense. Leicester, Southampton, and West Ham are all keeping tabs on him, with a view towards a potential January move.

Whether that would entail a permanent transfer or a loan of some kind remains to be seen, but unless Danny’s fortunes receive an unexpected boost, he’s surely not long for Chelsea at this rate.