Turkish club Besiktas plan to sign Chelsea midfielder Jon Mikel Obi after failing to strike a deal for Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva.
Mikel is one of the longest-serving active players in the current Blues squad. His arrival from Norwegian side Lyn in 2006 was hailed as a big coup when Chelsea stumped Manchester United. Mikel had played his part in the success of the club for the past ten years and was a common feature for the fans.
However, the Nigerian has fallen down the pecking order and will be pushed further down if Paul Pogba arrives. There is active enthusiasm that the French playmaker can be persuaded to join the Blues this transfer window.
If the deal for Pogba goes through, Mikel may become ‘the invisible man’ at Chelsea.
Besiktas are desperate to reinforce their midfield and have been actively scouting Lucas. They were confident of snapping him before Brendan Rodgers apparently pulled the plug. There are reports in Turkish press that the Black Eagles are eager to loan Mikel with an option to buy.
The move could represent an exit for the Nigerian who has spent most of the last couple of season on the sidelines. The days of being a valued member of the squad are just a vivid thought from the past.
Mikel could still offer Besiktas a great deal of his experience having won many titles including Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea. The promise of first-team action will appeal to Mikel while his experience is a big boost for the Istanbul side.
