- Maurizio Sarri is reportedly eager to offload midfielder Danny Drinkwater
- The 28-year-old midfielder is deemed surplus to requirement at Chelsea
- Drinkwater has only five starts in Chelsea since his switch from Leicester 12 months ago
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is reportedly keen to offload midfielder Danny Drinkwater out of the Premier League.
According to a UK Sun report citing sources at The Daily Star, Blues Italian manager Sarri has “has signalled he is happy for the England international to leave before the European transfer window closes at the end of the month.”
At the moment Chelsea’s midfielders include Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek alongside the 28-year-old Drinkwater.
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Already, Tiemoue Bakayoko has left Stamford Bridge on loan to AC Milan this week after he was deemed surplus to requirements by the 59-year-old Italian coach.
Now Drinkwater is reportedly heading for the exit doors as Sarri attempts to reduce the club’s salary bill.
The England international has not had it nice since his £35m move from Leicester to Stamford Bridge last summer.
The Premier League winners some seasons ago over the past 12 months have just five starts for Chelsea in the English topflight.
However, a move to the Bundesliga side Schalke may be timely for Drinkwater, as the Germans are eager to make up for missing out of compatriot Loftus-Cheek.
Interestingly, the ex-Manchester United academy product Drinkwater could decides to remain in London and fight for his place other than moving elsewhere before the end of the ongoing European transfer window on August 31.
Maurizio Sarri will allow the midfielder to leave for an overseas club. Photo credit: Getty Images
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However, Sarri, who left Drinkwater out of Chelsea squad in the 3-0 win at Huddersfield seems not to reckon with the midfielder at the moment.
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously had reported that Chelsea have tendered an offer of £30 million plus midfielder Danny Drinkwater to sign Ivorian forward Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace, suggest reports coming out of London.
The former Manchester United ace was the Eagles star performer last term after netting nine times alongside five assists in 29 matches.
The 25-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham for the past two seasons but nothing positive have been reached with Palace so far.
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Source: Naija.ng