Chelsea identify Everton midfielder as Drinkwater alternative

Joe Williams

Chelsea will look to sign Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye if their attempts at landing Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater prove futile, according to reports.

Antonio Conte started the season with just 14 senior players at his disposal thanks to injury and inactivity in the transfer market and the Italian is keen to add another midfielder to replace Nemanja Matic.

The Serbian left to join Premier League rivals Manchester United in a deal worth around £40million and Conte has previously admitted it wasn’t his choice to let him move to Old Trafford.

The Daily Mail claims that the champions will look to fill the void left by Matic with Everton’s Gueye if their attempts to sign Drinkwater are unsuccessful.

Drinkwater is valued by the Foxes at £40million which could prove a major stumbling block in the deal, according to the report.

And if that proves to be the case then Chelsea will look to move for Gueye, who had attracted interest from Conte earlier in the summer.

However, it was their pursuit of Romelu Lukaku – who eventually signed for the Red Devils – that halted their interest with two signings from Everton thought to be extra tricky.