Chelsea transfer news: Danny Drinkwater has handed in a transfer request at Leicester
That is according to Sky Sports, who say Leicester and Chelsea are still “a long way apart” in their valuation of Drinkwater.
Chelsea were thought to have lodged a £30m offer for the England international ahead of the transfer window closing at 11pm tomorrow night.
Drinkwater has handed in a transfer request at the King Power Stadium in order to force through his move away this summer.
But Sky Sports say Leicester do not want to sell the 27-year-old and will only do business for an offer well in excess of £30m.
Leicester’s Thai owners are extremely wealthy with chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha expected to demand more money the closer to the transfer deadline the deal goes.
The Foxes would be more reluctant to sell in that event because of the difficulty in finding a replacement.
Drinkwater still has the best part of four seasons left to run on his Leicester contract.
Chelsea’s bid for the midfielder is part of a four-pronged deadline day transfer swoop to bolster their squad.
The Blues have seen their £25m bid for Ross Barkley rejected with Everton holding out for closer to £50m, despite the player’s desire to leave and him having less than a year to run on his current contract.
Chelsea also locked in talks with Swansea over a £15m deal for striker Fernando Llorente and look to have been snubbed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain despite agreeing a £35m fee with Arsenal.
Wantaway striker Diego Costa is moving closer to a £41m return to Atletico Madrid after the Spanish club stepped up efforts to sign him.
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