Make up your mind, Ray.
Ray Wilkins is back with more sage advice as clubs prepare to wrap up transfer business before the window closes on Thursday night.
Earlier this week, Wilkins criticised Liverpool following their 4-0 win over Arsenal, made a terrible comparison between Philippe Coutinho and Mo Salah, and advised Jonny Evans against joining Manchester City because he might not start ahead of Nicolas Otamendi.
After spewing all that, Ray is back with more advice for another homegrown player who could be on the move – Danny Drinkwater. According to reports, Drinkwater has handed in a transfer request amid interest from Chelsea.
Danny Drinkwater's transfer request went in about a month ago so not sure it changes much for Chelsea. They need to pay up to get him
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 30, 2017
Chelsea reportedly value the England international, who came through the ranks at Manchester United, at £25m.
However, Leicester want a fee closer to £30m. With the transfer window due to close on Thursday, you would imagine the two clubs will reach a compromise and agree a deal for the midfielder.
But Wilkins bloody hopes not.
Danny Drinkwater has recorded 6 Premier League assists from outside the final third since 2015/16; only Cesc Fabregas (7) has more.
🎯 pic.twitter.com/lTIxhxaOm9
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 30, 2017
The former Chelsea assistant manager reckons Drinkwater should remain at Leicester, because he won’t get a game for Antonio Conte’s side.
“Danny has done really well over the last couple of years,” Wilkins told Talk Sport.
“The important thing again is to play. If Danny comes to Chelsea – (where) (Tiemoue) Bakayoko has cost £40million and Kante everybody loves – is he going to get a game with (Cesc) Fabregas as well? If I was Danny, I’d go somewhere where I would play personally.”
190 – Since August 2015, Danny Drinkwater has made more tackles in the Premier League than any other English player. Bulldog. pic.twitter.com/g3utVXrdwC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 30, 2017
Wilkins is correct to say Drinkwater faces more competition for a starting place at Chelsea, but his advice goes against almost everything else he’s ever said about transfers.
Earlier this summer, the Proper Football Man hit out at Manchester United for signing Victor Lindelof from Benfica, rather than completing a deal for Michael Keane, who joined Everton from Burnley.
“Now, when we bring someone in from Europe, it always starts with a three. This guy has done nothing. Absolutely nothing. Yet Keane has played a season exceptionally well in the Premier League, but we’re talking £25m. This guy’s coming in at £32m, £33m, can he do it? We know Keane can, yet we’re prepared to spend. It always starts with a three, or a four, or a five. No-one gets anything cheap from Europe because it’s the Premier League.”
"A poor man's Coutinho, without being disrespectful to him" https://t.co/UReIcYOIDK
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 30, 2017
Yet, when a “big” club attempt to sign a homegrown player, Wilkins tells them not to move. In the past few days, he has advised Evans to stay at West Brom, and now told Drinkwater to know his place and not be ambitious. We doubt either player will take Wilkins’ advice on board, and just as well because he’s completely contradicting himself.
Make up your mind, mate. You can’t moan when top Premier League clubs don’t sign British and Irish players, and then advise homegrown players to stay at mid-table teams when they have a chance to join clubs in the Champions League. It’s almost as if Ray is talking nonsense.
