Although it is difficult to predict to just how far will the buy of Danny Drinkwater affect Chelsea’s campaign, the £35 million signing of the English midfielder has brought in a sense of closure among fans from the nagging feeling that had started since the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United.
The Blues had to apply for a two-hour extension to the transfer deadline on Thursday night to complete the transfer. The deal was hinging on Leicester City’s ability to get a replacement for the departing midfielder as the Foxes were eyeing Sporting Lisbon’s, Adrien Silva. Leicester City were awaiting clearance from FIFA over a confirmed move for the Portuguese.
After losing out on Fernando Llorente to Tottenham Hotspur and Ross Barkley rejecting a move to Stamford Bridge right at the last moment, getting in Drinkwater and Davide Zappacosta would surely come as a relief to Conte, who has been struggling with squad depth this season as Chelsea battle on four fronts.
Drinkwater joins old teammate N’Golo Kante at Stamford Bridge, along with whom he had won Leicester City the Premier League title in the 2015-16 campaign. Chelsea had picked up Kante the immediate next season as the small Frenchman played a significant role in helping them seal the title next season. The Blues would hope getting his former partner could help them win the title for the second time on the trot.
Drinkwater said – “I’m delighted to be a Chelsea player and can’t wait to get started, It has been a long journey to get here but I am very happy and am looking forward to helping the club win more trophies.”
While it will be much more difficult for Drinkwater to compete with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko, the 27-year-old’s USP remains in his disciplined box to box style of play. He is a manager’s guy for every occasion, given his defensive stabilities and no-nonsense play.
Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester had won the title in purely counter attacking football, and Drinkwater was the conduit to their lightning shift in gear from defence to attack. Although he doesn’t possess Bakayoko’s height and strength or Fabregas ability to pass through the eye of the needle, alongside Kante, Drinkwater’s passing gets effective multiple times.
Chelsea’s technical director, Michael Emenalo, said, “He is a typically combative English midfielder with a cultured passing technique and his arrival significantly strengthens our midfield options.”
While Conte would need some time adapting and experimenting to his relatively sound midfield now, Drinkwater provides a different attacking dimension and consistency which makes him a must starter in every game in the Premier League.
