Chelsea ready second bid for Premier League midfielder

Chelsea are readying a second bid for Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater that could be worth more than £25m, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The Premier League champions have already had a £15m bid rejected by Leicester and the Foxes reportedly value Drinkwater at more than double Chelsea’s opening offer.

While Leicester do not want to lose the 27-year-old, there is a feeling that a deal can be done if Chelsea make an offer Craig Shakespeare’s side cannot refuse.

Chelsea may look to accelerate their interest in Drinkwater after Cesc Fabregas was sent off in their shock 3-2 defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

With Fabregas due to serve a one-game ban and new signing Tiemoue Bakayoko still recovering from knee surgery, it leaves Antonio Conte with N’Golo Kante as his only fit senior central midfielder ahead of their London derby with Tottenham next weekend.

In the last three Premier League campaigns, Drinkwater has won possession the midfield third of the pitch more times than any other player (331).