Chelsea outcast offered to former Leicester boss in potential reunion
Chelsea outcast Danny Drinkwater has been offered the chance to reunite with Claudio Ranieri at Sampdoria, according to reports.
Drinkwater has endured some troubled times in recent months, having been caught drink driving and headbutting a teammate while on loan at Aston Villa, among other incidents.
On the pitch, action has been rare. Drinkwater made just six appearances last season across loan spells with Burnley and Aston Villa. He failed to feature in the league at all in his last full season at Chelsea.
The three-time England international has looked a shadow of the player that rose to prominence with Leicester between 2012 and 2017. But now, he could reunite with the coach that got the best out of him at the King Power Stadium.
According to Il Secolo XIX, an intermediary has offered Drinkwater to Sampdoria. The Italian club are currently managed by Claudio Ranieri, under whom Drinkwater became a Premier League champion with Leicester.
Ranieri took over at Sampdoria towards the start of last season, helping them avoid relegation. This will be his first full campaign in charge, and he wants to strengthen his midfield.
Drinkwater made 67 appearances under Ranieri at Leicester – with only Nigel Pearson having used him in more games. And with the midfielder hoping to leave Chelsea – either on loan again or via a permanent deal – a reunion could be on the cards.
However, the report adds that Ranieri is unsure about the potential deal. He may prefer to target another Leicester midfielder, Adrien Silva, instead.
Ranieri had already left Leicester by the time they signed Silva in 2018, but does admire the player. However, Samp would have to make sales first.
Drinkwater keen for revival
Drinkwater recently opened up about his struggles on and off the pitch in a revealing interview with The Telegraph.
Interestingly, he even admitted then that he would consider a move abroad. That was before the Sampdoria links emerged, though.
“I’ve got loads more to give,” he said. “I’m open to going abroad, even though it will be difficult with my son. But I would hope to still see him and, hopefully, he would understand that for a year I needed to get my career sorted out again.
“I need an anchor and I need to sort out one side of my life, so if I can sort my football out, even if it is abroad, then that will help in the long term. I need something to grasp.”