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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Evening Standard, Danny Drinkwater now looks likely to stay at Chelsea this summer after the midfielder failed to attract any "concrete offers" to leave.

What's the word?

It had been claimed in recent weeks that the former Leicester midfielder could be set for a Stamford Bridge exit after Frank Lampard had reportedly deemed the star as "surplus to requirements".

He only played once under Maurizio Sarri across the entirety of last season, and that came in the glorified pre-season friendly that is the Community Shield.

However, The Evening Standard now claim that Drinkwater will seemingly provide back-up to Chelsea's midfield options and that his status as a 'home-grown player' is of major benefit to the make-up of the Blues' squad for the Premier League and Champions League.

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Whilst the report adds that the 29-year-old could still leave the club before the end of the transfer window deadline, his reported £100k-a-week wages may prove to be a stumbling block.

Make the most of it

Confidence is still seemingly an under-appreciated commodity in football. Or in any walk of life for that matter. But Drinkwater's struggles at Chelsea after being on top of the world with Leicester, is sure to have dented the midfielder's confidence.

But in there still remains a box-to-box midfielder who could really thrive under Frank Lampard's leadership. At the Foxes, Drinkwater was tasked with forming part of the midfield engine, and made a name out of starting counter-attacks with his superb through balls over the top. Under Antonio Conte and Sarri however, his best qualities were stifled. Possession. Possession. Possession.

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But with Lampard at the helm, the Blues are seemingly keen on doing the hard yards off the ball and becoming a more dangerous counter-attacking side; case in point, Christian Pulisic's fine second goal against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday. Whilst it was Ross Barkley who played the sumptuous pass from his own half to release the USA international, it was eerily reminiscent of the kind of Drinkwater-Jamie Vardy partnership that took over the King Power Stadium back in the 2015/2016 season.

So whilst Drinkwater's continued presence at the club might be a surprise, Lampard could help revive the fortunes of the former Leicester star.

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