According to a recent report from The Independent, Leicester City are interested in bringing midfielder Danny Drinkwater back to the club. The 28-year-old only left the King Power Stadium 12 months ago to sign for Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, yet the England international has found regular football hard to come by at Stamford Bridge, and as such could be on his way out of the club prior to today’s 5pm deadline.

Yet Crystal Palace and West Ham are also thought to be keen on the £18 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), who should forget about a return to Leicester, as he would be much better served opting for Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, while Drinkwater enjoyed the best spell of his career with the Foxes between 2012 and 2017, in which time he of course helped the club to the Premier League title, it’s difficult to see how he would fit into Claude Puel’s side given the number of options the Frenchman already has at his disposal.

Wilfred Ndidi has been something of a revelation since his move to the King Power Stadium last year, while Adrien Silva slowly but surely began to prove his worth in the middle of the park as last season went on. Add Vicente Iborra into the mix, and there’s huge competition for places in Puel’s midfield.

Thus, it’s far from certain that Drinkwater would command regular football at Leicester regardless of what he has achieved there before, and having spent the best part of a year having to make-do with sitting on the substitute’s bench, starting regularly will surely be of paramount importance to the 28-year-old.

And that is why a move to the London Stadium and West Ham should be of greater interest to the Chelsea midfielder, as the Hammers’ sale of Cheikhou Kouyate to Palace has left something of a hole in the centre of their midfield.

Yes, while the Senegal international was far from his best last season and struggled for form for the majority of the campaign, he did a reasonably solid job during his stint in East London to suggest that his presence in the middle of the park is likely to be missed.

And while Pellegrini has moved to bring in Jack Wilshere, and still has the likes of Pedro Obiang (albeit he has been linked with a move away) and Mark Noble still at the club, another accomplished central midfielder would certainly not go amiss - Drinkwater is one of those.

The 28-year-old was outstanding for Leicester in helping them win the title back in 2016, and indeed played a key part in helping them stave off relegation the season before under Nigel Pearson - there’s a reason he has earned three caps for England, and indeed a big money move to Chelsea last term.

Yes, things haven’t gone particularly well for Drinkwater at Stamford Bridge, but one mustn’t forget the player that helped Leicester achieve the unthinkable just a few years ago - he’d be ideal for West Ham.

But with the Foxes appearing to be well-stocked in the middle of the park, and the 28-year-old likely on the lookout for a greater guarantee of regular football, he should forget about Leicester and indeed opt for Pellegrini’s West Ham before this evening’s deadline.

West Ham and Leicester fans… what do you think? Let us know!