Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater hands in transfer request in bid to force through Chelsea move

Riyad Mahrez (right) and Danny Drinkwater have been linked with moves away from Leicester recently

John Percy
© Telegraph Media Group Limited

Danny Drinkwater has handed in a transfer request at Leicester City but a move to Chelsea is hanging in the balance.

Drinkwater, the England international, submitted an official request on Monday in a bid to force through a move to the Premier League champions.

Chelsea have offered around £25 million for Drinkwater and have been in talks with Leicester for the past fortnight in a bid to agree a deal. But Leicester are sticking to a valuation of £40m and there is now a chance the club's owners could even demand a bigger fee after this latest development.

It is understood that Drinkwater made it clear he wanted to speak to Chelsea weeks ago but it was only on Monday that he made his desire to leave official.

Drinkwater agreed a new £80,000 a week contract last summer and has four years remaining on his current deal, so Leicester are convinced they are holding all the cards. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will make an increased offer, leaving Drinkwater facing a potentially awkward situation if the move collapses.

Leicester are close to agreeing one player departure, however, with Nigeria international Ahmed Musa a target for Hull City on loan.