John Obi Mikel says Victor Osimhen ‘really wants’ to join Chelsea and it would be ‘pretty easy’ for the club to sign the striker.
Chelsea’s interest in Osimhen stretches back a number of years and it appeared the Blues were on the cusp of an agreement for the Napoli forward last summer.
A Chelsea contingent was sent to Naples on transfer deadline day with a view to getting a deal over the line, but the Nigerian’s wage demands proved a stumbling block and the proposed move to west London fell through.
Unwilling to take a pay-cut at Stamford Bridge, Osimhen instead went on to complete a season-long loan switch to Galatasaray and the 26-year-old has been an instant hit for the Turkish Super Lig champions.
A return of 26 goals in 30 appearances this term has only intensified speculation over a big-money move to the Premier League, though, and Manchester United are reportedly a £33million bid – plus Rasmus Hojlund – to lure him to Old Trafford.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Arsenal have also been heavily linked, but Obi Mikel – an outspoken critic of Nicolas Jackson – hopes to see Chelsea step up their pursuit of Osimhen again as he believes his fellow countryman has the quality to turn his former club into title challengers.
‘We almost got the deal done for Osimhen last summer. The club wanted the player and the player wanted to come as well,’ the ex-Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder said on Sky Sports News.
‘I know exactly where we stopped. If we have to pick it up again in the summer, it’s just pretty easy to get it done because the player really wants to come to the football club.
‘If you’re talking about a striker to come in and help Chelsea Football Club, you have to talk about Alexander Isak and you have to talk about Victor Osimhen.
‘For me, these are the top two strikers. If we were able to get one of those guys they would definitely help for next season in terms of being able to compete to win the Premier League.’
While Chelsea’s form has been indifferent over the winter period, Obi Mikel remains confident that Enzo Maresca remains the right manager to take the club forward.
‘It’s going well I think. I like Maresca, I’ve said it before,’ he added.
‘I think he’s a great manager, I think he’s a manager that has improved this squad from where we were when he took over.
‘The way the team play now, you can see there is a bit of an identity with the way we want to play, the way the fans want to see the Chelsea team play.’
According to Obi Mikel, Maresca will be judged on whether or not he manages to steer the team to Champions League football this season.
‘Finishing in the top four is where everyone is going to judge him this season because we need to finish in the top four,’ the two-time Premier League winner went on.
‘It’s his first season, he needs a bit more time so I think after this season, if we finish in the top, I see the team doing really well and start competing to win the league.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
