Chelsea star’s loan deal set to be terminated, to return to Stamford Bridge in January

There are reports Burnley are set to terminate Danny Drinkwater’s loan deal from Chelsea in January.

The Clarets have the option to extend the former Leicester star’s terms in the winter transfer window, but are unlikely to exercise this option.

Chelsea would demand Burnley cover Drinkwater’s full £120,000 a week contract, and, according to Sportsmail, Sean Dyche’s men are instead believed to be looking for alternatives.

Drinkwater has struggled to force himself into Dyche’s first-team plans, and may now be forced to battle for his long-term future at Stamford Bridge once again.

The former England international has featured just once for the Turf Moor outfit, after being handed a rare appearance against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup.

But it proved to be a debut to forget for the 29-year-old, but made an error which was pounced upon by Will Grigg for the League One outfit.

He had also been controversially sidelined after being attacked outside a nightclub in September, and Drinkwater had suffered ankle ligament damage.

Dyche recently confirmed that he would consider whether Drinkwater’s future would lie in Lancashire.

He said: ‘We weren’t thinking it was going to transpire as it has done.

‘That leaves it in a different place than it could have been if he’d been fit and well.’