Danny Drinkwater has emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Danny Drinkwater has emerged as a transfer target for Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has told Antonio Conte to forget about signing Danny Drinkwater.

The England international, who played a key role in Leicester’s shock 2015/16 title success, has emerged as a genuine transfer target for the champions who are desperate to bolster their midfield following Nemanja Matic’s departure to Manchester United.

Conte hit out at the club’s decision to sell the two-time Premier League winner to a direct rival on Wednesday, and his mood is unlikely to be lifted by Shakespeare’s hardline stance.

‘We don’t want to be a selling club, we want to add to it,’ said Shakespeare when asked about Drinkwater.

Antonio Conte has missed out on a number of his main transfer targets this summer (Picture: Getty)
Antonio Conte was annoyed by the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

TRANSFERS IN

Willy Caballero (free, from Manchester City), Antonio Rudiger (£34m, from Roma), Tiemoue Bakayoko (£40m, from Monaco), Alvaro Morata (£60m, from Real Madrid)


TRANSFERS OUT

Juan Cuadrado (£17m, to Juventus), Christian Atsu (£6.2m, to Newcastle), Dominic Solanke (Compensation, to Liverpool), Asmir Begovic (£10m, to Bournemouth), Alex Kiwomya (free, to Doncaster), Bertrand Traore (£8.8m, to Lyon), Nathan Ake (£20m, to Bournemouth), John Terry (free, to Aston Villa), Tammy Abraham (loan, to Swansea), Alex Davey (released), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (loan, to Crystal Palace), Nathaniel Chalobah (£5m, to Watford)

‘We don’t want to sell our best players. The speculation is always going to be out there at this time of year.

‘You know when you have good players there might be an interest in them. You have to deal with reality but also keep a calmness about you as well.’

Chelsea have reportedly already begun discussions with Leicester over a potential £30million move for Drinkwater, who is set to sit out his side’s first game of the season against Arsenal on Friday night with a thigh injury.

Riad Mahrez is likely to start, meanwhile, despite speculation continuing to link him with a move away as both Roma and Inter vie for his services.

‘I can only speak on how I’ve found him coming back, he has been focussed and driven,’ added Shakespeare.

‘He hasn’t given me one problem where I’ve had to pull him to the side and say, ‘Oi, pull your finger out.’ Until we get a bid that is reasonable for Leicester, he will stay.’

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