Will It Be A Good Signing?
In the final few hours of the transfer deadline day, the reigning champions of England managed to recruit a couple of good players and one of them was a Leicester City midfielder, not Mahrez obviously. Danny Drinkwater was the final player to join the Premier League champs, with the deal being announced in the early hours of Friday morning.
The move for the Leicester man came as a tremendous shock to one and all, as the Blues had to react quickly.
The Toffees’ star Ross Barkley eventually changed his mind about joining Chelsea during a medical, which left Conte even more frustrated with the transfer window.
However, that led to Drinkwater being identified as a backup option to replace Nemanja Matic, who left for Manchester United earlier last month.
Drinkwater was a key member of the Leicester City team that won the Premier League two years ago and will join his former team-mate N’golo Kante, who won two consecutive Premier League, titles in two seasons.
The 27 year old midfield superstar hasn’t managed to play for Leicester this season as of yet due to a thigh injury but could recover in time to make his debut for Chelsea against his former club Leicester at the King Power Stadium on 9th September.
The Foxes confirmed that a club record transfer fee of £35m had been paid for the services of the England international, as Chelsea wrapped up a five-year contract for him.
The latest signing made by the west London outfit wrote on the club’s website, “I am 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.”
The 27-year-old central midfielder is classy with his passing abilities and is a dynamic box-to-box play-maker, who usually lies deep in the centre of the pitch.
Drinkwater made 192 appearances for Leicester and scored 13 times for them during his five-year spell before joining Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Will He Be Able To Fill Matic’s Shoes?
It will be tough to fit into the Serb’s shoes, with the kind of start that he has made at The Theatre of Dreams already. Matic has fit right in to the Red Devils’ first team, while Drinkwater might have to wait for his turn, as Kante will be the first choice defensive midfielder.
Conte might even consider starting both the former Foxes’ stars together at some point of time, though it seems highly unlikely this early, as he does have other options as well.
The England international would be fully aware and well prepared for, as he joined the Blues, after the departure of Matic who had fallen down the pecking order in recent times.
The Champions League return should be the prime focus of the Italian manager and he needs all the players that he can get, as he will have options to rotate and reshuffle his squad, as and when needed.
Drinkwater can be a wonderful addition to the squad that the Chelsea manager already possesses and if he does settle into the squad well at Stamford Bridge, Conte will surely make him a part of his plans.
Do like our page for more from this story and various other key news.
