Premier League newcomers Norwich City have made an enquiry for Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater, as per reports.
The Canaries are desperate to bolster their midfield options, and the Daily Mail have claimed that they have put Drinkwater on their radar.
The report further states that Drinkwater will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge this week as he has no future under the tutelage of new Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.
Brighton and Hove Albion have also registered their interest in Drinkwater, and it is to be seen which club manages to get hold of him.
Intriguingly, Daniel Farke’s side have brought in five new players so far this summer, but have spent little under £1 million in the process.
Norwich City don’t have too many players with Premier League experience in their squad, so someone like Drinkwater would be a valuable addition.
Danny Drinkwater: Profile
Drinkwater’s career at Manchester United didn’t take off, so he had to move to Leicester City in 2012, where he finally managed consistent playing time and rose to prominence.
After helping them return to the Premier League in 2014, he featured regularly for the Foxes in their title-winning 2015-16 season.
However, his career has stagnated following his move to Chelsea in the summer of 2017 as he has mustered just 23 appearances for the west London outfit so far.
Lampard is likely to give the likes of Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek opportunities in central midfield, so Drinkwater will have to move on if he is to play regularly next season.
Should Farke go all in to sign Danny Drinkwater?
Drinkwater is a tenacious player in the middle of the park, and he formed a formidable partnership with N’Golo Kanté with Leicester. While the latter was the defensive shield, Drinkwater often sprayed the passes and used his good distribution to set Leicester on the counter.
At Chelsea, that was never going to work as the Blues are a much more proactive side. Drinkwater is someone who would suit a team that plays on the counter, like Norwich are expected to in the Premier League.
Farke’s side will come up against teams who will see more of the ball, and the German will have to set his side up on the counter. That’s where Drinkwater could be a key cog.
Though he didn’t feature in the league last season, Drinkwater is a proven top-flight player, and right now needs the faith of the manager and a suitable system to get his career back on track.
Drinkwater still has three years remaining on his current contract, but considering Norwich haven’t spent big, perhaps they can make him their marquee signing this summer.