Chelsea to continue talks over Danny Drinkwater with Leicester as fee heads north of £30m 

Danny Drinkwater 
Chelsea are still hopeful of signing Danny Drinkwater and hope Leicester will agree to a fee of about £30m Credit: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

Chelsea will continue negotiations with Leicester City over their bid for Danny Drinkwater which could cost them more than £30 million.

The Premier League champions have offered £25m for Drinkwater but the two clubs's valuations are still too far apart for agreement and Leicester are understood to want something approaching £40m. Chelsea remain hopeful that a deal can be struck in the next few days and believe Leicester are only delaying a sale while they search for a replacement. It is understood that Drinkwater is interested in the move.

Chelsea are also keen on Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, Everton's Ross Barkley and Swansea's Fernando Llorente and Antonio Conte made a fresh call for signings after Sunday's 2-0 victory over Ronald Koeman's team.

Leicester, meanwhile, are considering selling their record signing, Islam Slimani, with Monaco, Watford and Marseille launching bids for the Algeria international, but the 2016 champions are adamant that Bournemouth target Demarai Gray will sign a new contract.

Wimmer swaps Spurs for Stoke

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Wimmer is signing for Stoke in a deal worth up to £18m. Wimmer, 24, will have a medical at Stoke's training ground on Monday and becomes the seventh major signing of the summer for Mark Hughes.

Stoke agreed a fee for the Austria international over the weekend and Wimmer travelled to Staffordshire on Sunday after Spurs' home game against Burnley at Wembley. Stoke will pay an initial £15m which could rise after instalments.

Wimmer made only five league appearances for Spurs last season and his transfer to Stoke represents another excellent piece of business for chairman Daniel Levy. Signed for £4.3m from Cologne two seasons ago, Wimmer has made Spurs a £10m profit for a player who was also the subject of interest from West Brom and Crystal Palace.

Stoke are also working on other signings, including a wing-back and a midfielder, with Manchester City's Fabian Delph still an option in a possible loan deal.

Roberts ready for Rodgers reunion

Manchester City's Patrick Roberts is poised to rejoin Celtic on loan in the next 48 hours.

The England under-20 international is expected in Glasgow on Monday for a medical and will complete his protracted return before the transfer deadline.

Roberts, 20, scored 11 goals for Brendan Rodgers last season and is signing for the entire campaign.

Pulis turns to Turkey

Tony Pulis has launched a £12m bid for Fenerbahce's defensive midfielder Josef de Souza.

Pulis is making a late move for the Brazilian midfielder as he prepares for a frenetic finale to the transfer window.

Albion are also braced for a new bid from Manchester City for captain Jonny Evans.

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