Maurizio Sarri's Danny Drinkwater verdict shows Fulham must swoop
On Friday, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri delivered a strong verdict on Danny Drinkwater’s Chelsea career when suggesting he had no place in the manager’s preferred system.
Sarri’s harsh comments show that Fulham should swoop for the exiled midfielder and reunite Drinkwater with Claudio Ranieri.
While at Leicester City with Ranieri, Drinkwater hit his highest professional heights, starting 35 matches in centre midfield as the Foxes won the 2015/16 Premier League title in remarkable circumstances.
But after completing a move to Stamford Bridge in 2017, Drinkwater has found life at Chelsea far more taxing, making just five league starts to date.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
All came in 2017/18 under Antonio Conte, and once the manager departed this summer, Drinkwater’s only first team appearance under Sarri came in the Community Shield.
“I think for him the problem is only my football,” Sarri told BBC Sport. “He’s a very good midfielder but he is suitable for a midfield two because with a three he is not really a central midfielder or suitable for centre right or centre left.”
As his current manager has made it publicly clear he does not factor into his plans, Drinkwater must move to southwest London and reunite with Claudio Ranieri, a manager who has gotten the best out of the midfielder.
One of Fulham’s greatest weaknesses this season has been a lack of midfield cover, and with Ranieri showing a willingness to play a 4-2-3-1, the addition of Danny Drinkwater would be an astute January signing.
