Should West Ham pay Chelsea club record £30m for Drinkwater?

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West Ham United linked with a club record £30million move for out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater.

Danny Drinkwater could leave Chelsea just a year after joining the club from Leicester City as they prepare a squad clear-out to free up funds, reports the Telegraph.

With the Blues not looking likely to qualify for the Champions League this season, they will have a financial shortfall of between £50million and £70million if they want to spend big over the summer, which will have to be made up in order to comply with Financial Fair Play rules.

This means selling players and Drinkwater is one of those who could be off, with West Ham United said to be willing to meet the midfielder’s £30m asking price.

Is he worth it?

The 28-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from the Foxes in 2017 for £35m (BBC), but has since found regular game time hard to come by – partly due to injuries – with 22 appearances in all competitions this term to date.

Drinkwater played a key role in Leicester’s shock Premier League title victory of 2015/16 but has seemingly struggled to make the step up to a regular top six club.

Although the Manchester United academy product has three England caps to his name, there is no talk of him making Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer despite the Three Lions being short of options in central midfield.

Perhaps West Ham would suit him well, but with Drinkwater set to turn 29 next birthday and a stop-start campaign behind him, should the Hammers really be paying a club record fee for his services?