Drinkwater has the ability to play for Chelsea says Schwarzer
Drinkwater has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in recent weeks as Antonio Conte looks to strengthen his options in midfield.
The Blues manager sold midfielder Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in a £40million deal last month and also saw Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah leave.
And while Schwarzer admits Drinkwater is not a direct replacement for Matic, the former Chelsea and Leicester goalkeeper believes he has what it takes to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.
“He’s not a Matic, he’s more of a creative player," Schwarzer, who worked with Drinkwater from 2015 to 2016, told talkSPORT.
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Mark Schwarzer says Danny Drinkwater is ready to make the step up at Chelsea
“At Leicester last season we saw that he struggled without having N'Golo Kante next to him, but Danny Drinkwater is a very talented young man and has done incredibly well at Leicester.
“I think he’s capable of making that step up.
“Whether or not he’s someone who will play week-in week-out, whether he’s good enough to make that step up to be a mainstream player in Chelsea’s first XI, we’ll only know once he makes that step if it happens.
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Danny Drinkwater would link up with N'Golo Kante at Chelsea
I think he’s capable of making that step up
Mark Schwarzer
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“But he’s definitely got the ability.”
A move to Chelsea would see Drinkwater again link up with N'Golo Kante, who he starred alongside as Leicester stormed to the 2015/16 Premier League title.
Leicester are said to want at least £30m in order to sell the 27-year-old, who has made 218 appearances since joining the Foxes from Manchester United in 2012.
