West Ham should forget Drinkwater and target Chelsea team-mate Loftus-Cheek

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West Ham are interested in Chelsea outcast Danny Drinkwater to boost their midfield ranks, according to TalkSport.

They report that the former Leicester midfielder is the Hammers’ top target on transfer deadline day as Manuel Pellegrini looks to beef up his options in the engine room.

Pellegrini is without Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez in the centre of the park – both of whom only joined this summer – and sees 2015/16 title winner Drinkwater as the man to fill the breach.

Drinkwater has slipped from contention under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea – only making two matchday squads and failing to get off the bench in either of them.

But there is another player at Chelsea who would be an even better option for West Ham, England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

There has been a growing trend of English players finally gaining the confidence to chase opportunities across Europe this season, and it remains a mystery why Loftus-Cheek hasn’t pushed harder to leave Stamford Bridge.

Last term’s loan spell with Crystal Palace brought him on leaps and bounds, pushing him into the England squad for the summer’s World Cup, but he has regressed at Chelsea this season.

His athleticism and class would be a welcome addition to West Ham’s midfield – a better fit than Drinkwater’s more limited style – and Loftus-Cheek is the one who should get Pellegrini’s attention.