West Ham United are allegedly tracking the Chelsea man.
According to a report from the Daily Mail (January 23rd, page 65), West Ham are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Danny Drinkwater this month, but the move would surely be a backward step for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from Leicester City in the summer of 2017, for a fee believed to be worth somewhere in the region of £35 million, but he has really struggled at Stamford Bridge, making just five Premier League starts.
Drinkwater is a decent footballer, but it is hard to argue that he would offer the Hammers anything that they do not currently possess in the form of Declan Rice and Mark Noble.
West Ham are a club that supposedly has great ambition, and bringing the Chelsea man to the London Stadium would reek of nothing more than short-sightedness.
If the Hammers are to make genuine progress over the next few years, they should be making innovative moves for younger, hungrier and more technically gifted players than Drinkwater.
The Englishman would undoubtedly do a job at West Ham, but it is hard to envisage a scenario where he would really help Pellegrini’s side kick on to the next level.
The Chilean should instead be prioritising the singing of an attack-minded midfielder to help fill the void left behind because of Manuel Lanzini’s long-term injury.
Samir Nasri will be able to fill in of course, but he is 31, and will not be around forever.
With all of this considered, West Ham should avoid a move for Drinkwater at all costs, and focus on making more ambitious signings with one eye on the future.
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