Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has shed light on why fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen’s summer transfer to Stamford Bridge fell through.
The Premier League giants made a late bid for Osimhen as he neared an exit from Serie A side Napoli.
Despite receiving a lucrative offer from the Saudi Pro League, with Al-Ahli having an €80 million (£68m) bid accepted, the 25-year-old chose to join Turkish side Galatasaray on a season-long loan instead.
Mikel, a former Blues midfielder, revealed on The Obi One Podcast why Osimhen did not end up in England, noting that there remains potential for a deal to be completed in January.
“I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to, we finally got to a compromise, both sides had to compromise, it was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical, and a few issues we just couldn’t get over the line and we didn’t have much time,” he said.
“Both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done, and I commend Chelsea for that because I can see their ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club.
“He was disappointed it didn’t happen.
“I spoke to him when the transfer window shut, I gave him a call, we spent 20 minutes talking, I said, ‘listen, I’m always here for you, you need to keep your head down, you need to keep working hard, keep training, I know it’s not the best situation right now but I know you’re strong’.
“You know, Victor’s a strong character, he’s a bit like Didier Drogba and Diego Costa and that’s something we’re missing at the club, strikers who have that edge, who have that bite who can intimidate defenders and Victor definitely has that.”
Mikel added: “Definitely there are no issues.
“I think if we have to pick this back up again like I said, whenever it is, January or next summer, we know where we are, we know where we’ve stopped, and it’s just little details that need to be finalised and the deal will be done.
“So for me, the club is in a very happy place with Victor and Victor is in a very happy place with the club. I want to make sure, I’m not going to rest, I want to make sure I get him to the club because I know, not because he’s my friend, or he’s like my younger brother or he’s Nigerian, no, he is one of the best strikers in the world right now, he’s Africa’s best player, I know what he can bring to the club and I’m sure a lot of Chelsea fans know what Victor can bring to the club.
“Victor has come under a lot of criticism about this because people don’t know the ins and outs of what happened.
“You need to know that before you criticise the kid. Victor really, really wanted to come to the club and he had to compromise a lot to come to the middle because we did reach an agreement in terms of the salary, in terms of what he wants, it was just a few minor details here and there that we couldn’t get over the line.
“For me, hearing all that nonsense about Victor being greedy, a lot of people talking down about him.
“No, I think it’s time, especially Nigerians, support him, it’s time people around him, friends, Nigerian fans, get behind him and support him.
“Like I said, if we have to pick it back up again, if there is interest come January, Chelsea still want Victor and Victor still wants to come to Chelsea, we know exactly where we are.
“It’s not a matter of it being difficult, we’re just going to get the deal done.”
Reports suggest that Victor Osimhen has a release clause in his contract with Galatasaray, which can be activated by up to 10 top European clubs during the January transfer window.
Chelsea, among the interested parties, continue to seek a proven striker to strengthen their squad.
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