Reports: Chelsea FC Cancelled John Obi Mikel Transfer
John Obi Mikel had a proposed move away from Chelsea FC cancelled at the last minute
Stop us if you have heard this one before, Chelsea FC midfielder John Obi Mikel was reportedly on his way out of the Blues but was not sold before the closing of the transfer window. It seems like Mikel has been linked with a move away from the club for the past two or three seasons but somehow he has remained at Stamford Bridge.
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Before this summer, his future was usually clouded by vague rumors about transfers to different countries without any real confirmation from another club or Chelsea themselves. This time around it is a bit different. Chelsea FC reportedly cancelled the transfer of Mikel to Turkish club Besiktas after they were unable to sign Paul Pogba from Serie A club Juventus.
This is according to Turkish football agent Mesrun Izzet who said, as quoted by the Daily Star, “Besiktas had initially agreed terms with Chelsea and Mikel but Jose Mourinho blocked the deal at the last minute”. Now this is an agent talking and not Besiktas or Chelsea so it can be taken with a grain of salt but it does make sense.
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Mikel is on the hunt for first team football and his lack of action has hurt his place in the Nigerian national team. He was recently left off the squad for the current international break which is quite a fall for a man who holds the number 10 shirt for the country. Relegated to mostly cameo appearances to kill off games for Chelsea, Mikel surely would have preferred a move to another club where he could become first choice in the midfield.
If Chelsea FC had indeed signed Paul Pogba then Mikel would have been surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge. The Blues would have had four players capable of playing holding midfield in Nemanja Matic, Pogba, Ramires, and even Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Mikel may have still been the first man off the bench but his role could have also been performed by Ramires. Furthermore, if the Blues were up by more than a single goal then Loftus-Cheek would probably be given the nod instead.
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Unfortunately for all parties involved the supposed deal fell through. The Blues chased Pogba until the very end of the transfer window and Juventus would not budge so Jose Mourinho was unable to send his favorite closer off to another club. Perhaps things may change in the January window but for now Chelsea fans will have to live with Mikel coming on in the last 10-15 minutes of a match to protect a 1-0 lead.
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