Chelsea misfit Drinkwater wants return to former club after year in exile
Danny Drinkwater is eyeing up a shock return to Leicester - six years since the midfielder quit the Foxes for Chelsea.
The 33-year-old was part of Leicester's Premier League title-winning side in 2015/16, and also helped them win promotion back to the top-flight two years prior. In total, Drinkwater made 218 appearances for the East Midlands outfit following his move from Manchester United, scoring 14 goals in the process.
However, Drinkwater decided to leave in 2017 and join ex-teammate N'Golo Kante at Chelsea in a deal worth around £35million. He signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge as the Blues tried to rekindle the partnership Drinkwater had with Kante during Leicester's infamous Premier League success.
Despite a bright start to life in West London, Drinkwater failed to live up to the expectations and ended up falling out of favour after Antonio Conte's exit. In fact, Drinkwater, who also spent time out on loan at Burnley, Aston Villa, Kasimpasa and Reading, featured just once in his final four years at the club before his contract expired in 2022.
Since leaving Chelsea, Drinkwater has taken some time out of the game but is now refreshed and ready to return. In an interview with Sky Sports, the three-capped England international has admitted he wants to re-join Leicester and help them in their bid to return to the Premier League.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
He said: "I'd one hundred per cent go back to Leicester, it's a special place for me. To help them get back to the Premier League is something I'd love to do. It was hard to watch [their relegation]. You look at the squad and it's full of talent.
"They should see this as a reset. They had such a successful period before relegation, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield. If you go back 10 years, we were in the Championship and then look at what the club did in the next six to seven years. "They're in such a better place now than when I joined, they can get back up easily."
Danny Drinkwater spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Reading (Getty Images)Leicester have endured a busy summer so far. Several players left upon the expiry of their contracts, including Caglar Soyuncu and Youri Tielemans, while James Maddison has made the £40m move to Tottenham. Harvey Barnes could also leave the King Power Stadium, with Newcastle touting the winger.
As for incomings, new boss Enzo Maresca has moved to sign three players. Harry Winks was the first through the doors in a £10m swoop from Spurs, while Conor Coady joined as his eight-year stay at Wolves came to an end and Callum Doyle has put pen to paper on a loan move from Manchester City.
The Foxes are still expected to be busy between now and the end of window, with wingers and more midfielders expected to be on Maresca's shopping list. Leicester face Coventry on the opening weekend of the Championship season on August 6.
Mirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
