Danny Drinkwater: From Premier League title winner to Chelsea outcast – what has happened to the 35m star?

Danny Drinkwater: From Premier League title winner to Chelsea outcast – what has happened to the 35m star?
Danny Drinkwater is Chelsea’s forgotten man. A case as confusing now as it was when he joined.Arriving on deadline day in September 2017, it was the second successive summer Chelsea had splashed out on a midfielder – N’Golo Kante was first.4

Danny Drinkwater is not part of Maurizio Sarri’s plans at Chelsea

Perhaps the club and Drinkwater had visions of recreating the relationship he and the energetic Frenchman shared at Leicester City and why not? It worked well enough to win them the Premier League in 2016.But it has not exactly gone quite to plan. Kante has thrived, Drinkwater has not.When deals for Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fell through and Nemanja Matic signed for Manchester United in the 2017 summer transfer window, Chelsea sought a replacement. After applying for a two-hour extension, in came Drinkwater for 35million.4

The midfielder has not played in the Premier League since March

Eyebrows were raised and not just at the inflated price. Did Chelsea really need him when they had two talented players out on loan inRuben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah at Crystal Palace and Watford respectively?When his debut was delayed until October through injury, Drinkwater finally started for Chelsea in the League Cup against Everton.I dont think [the last few months] could have gone any worse, Drinkwater told Chelsea TV after his first appearance. I have been trying to take the positives out of it.”There was something ominous about these words and in the months that followed there was even less to be joyous about.Still not fully fit, Drinkwater declined to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squads for the international friendlies with Germany and Brazil.4

Drinkwater endured a frustrating start to his Chelsea career

In cameJake Livermore, Eric Dier and Jack Cork. Ironically, it was Loftus-Cheek who was man of the match against the Germans and Southgate has not called upon Drinkwater since.Fast forward a year on and Drinkwater is well and truly on the sidelines. He has started just 12 matches for Chelsea, totalling 522 minutes and has not played a competitive game since a 1-0 loss to Manchester City. That was in March.This season has been even worse under Maurizio Sarri, with a 30 minute cameo in the Community Shield his only action to date. Even in secondary competitions such as the League Cup, where Sarri normally uses his fringe players, the 28-year-old has not had a look in. He didn’t even make the Europa League squad. When he was announced on the bench for the recent win over Derby County there was genuine confusion among those inside Stamford Bridge.If it was not already clear as to where Drinkwater stood under the Italian, he was quickly reminded.“I think the situation is that Drinkwater for me is not suitable for a midfield with two other midfielders. I told him two months ago what I think,” Sarri said.While the temptation to join one of the biggest clubs in the world may have been too great to turn down, Drinkwater only need to look at former team-mate Jamie Vardy, who rejected pastures new and remains the focal point at Leicester.4

Drinkwater should have used the example of Jamie Vardy

Drinkwater previously had the courage and took the risk to leave Manchester United in order to pursue first-team chances, going on loan before finally settling at the King Power, this is a gamble that looks unlikely to pay off.A Premier League winner and a solid, combative midfielder, Drinkwater should not be spending his prime years rotting on the Chelsea bench and these days a place on that seems a bonus. January can not come quick enough.

---

According to reports this afternoon, West Ham United have agreed a fee with Chelsea and Inter Milan target Keita Baldé Diao, a fee believed to be in the region of €27.5 million, with a bonus making the deal set to rise to €32 million.
Inter Milan pull plug on permanent deal for West Ham target

---

Harry Maguire reveals he does not respect Matej Vydra after crunching tackle left Czech Republic striker regretting targeting Leicester City defender by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 23 Mar +Harry Maguire had the last laugh over Matej Vydra after being described as 'England's weak link' by the Burnley striker.
Matej Vydra reveals Czech plan to exploit weakness of Harry

---

West Ham have reinstated academy coach Mark Phillips after investigating his social media posts revealing his involvement in a march organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA).. The
West Ham reinstate suspended academy coach - Football

---

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to join the race to sign Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez during the January transfer window. Mauricio Pochettino failed to make a single first-team signing
Barcelona news: Bid made for Spurs and West Ham target Maxi

---

Swansea 3-0 Brentford: Nathan Dyer brace and Daniel James strike wraps up victory for Welsh side. Dan James passed to Nathan Dyer who scored in very first minute of game
Result: James inspires Swansea to comeback victory over

---

Maurizio Sarri would reportedly be cheaper to sack than any other Chelsea manager during the Roman Abramovich era, with the club only needing to pay £5m to get rid of the Italian.
Chelsea news live: Sarri on Kanté - football.london

---

Neymar limped out of training holding his knee to deal Brazil's hopes of winning the Copa America a huge blow. The world's most expensive player looked to be in considerable discomfort as he held his left knee, before leaving accompanied by team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar at Granja Comary.
Brazil star Neymar believes knee injury suffered ahead of

---

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho sets sights on return to management in the Bundesliga The Portuguese has claimed league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain but now wants to
Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho sets sights on

---

Manchester City's head physio Lee Nobes is leaving the club at the end of the month to join Premier League rivals Liverpool. Nobes has been at City for 11 years after originally joining Sven
Blow for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as head physio

---

'I thought it was brilliant': Cardiff boss Neil Warnock defends Jose Mourinho's bottle-throwing antics in Manchester United's late win over Young Boys. Jose Mourinho threw a crate of bottles to
Jose Mourinho and Brian Clough are cut from the same cloth

---

Rangers news: Ibrox side slam Scottish Football Association for 'singling out' Jon Flanagan for retrospective action after Celtic clash May 15, 2019 Susan D Benoit; FA Cup final in numbers: Manchester City eye sixth success, while Newport striker Padraig Amond remains top scorer in this season's competition
IMG_0595 - Builders Talk Group

---

Torreira won the Gunners' play of the month of the month award for November and is clearly making an impact but is player none of the Premier League's top teams would look at according to Merson. He told Sky Sports: "Liverpool wouldn't buy him tomorrow morning, I wouldn't have thought any of the top four would.

---