Chelsea
midfielder John Obi Mikel has agreed to join Turkish side Galatasaray,
according to local reports in Nigeria.
The 26-year-old only signed a new
five-year contract with the Blues in December, but is thought to be ready to
end his seven-year relationship with the club if the money offered by
Galatasaray is right, according to Nigerian newspaper The Nation.
Mikel would then be joining up with
former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba, who moved to the Turkish side from
Shanghai Shenhua in January.
But Jose Mourinho and the club still
need to be convinced to let Mikel depart, with the midfielder having moved
to west London during the Portuguese’s last spell in charge and him being a
player very much in the Mourinho mould.
However, should the Nigerian
international leave Stamford Bridge this summer, it could pave the way for
former Chelsea youngster Nemanja Matic to return to the club, with Mourinho
keen to re-sign the 25-year-old from Benfica.
Matic put in an impressive display
against the Blues in May’s Europa League final at the Amsterdam Arena, which
Chelsea went on to win 2-1.
The Serbian has already stated
he wants to
remain in Portugal for another season, but Chelsea believe they can
still lure him to Stamford Bridge. Failing that, Mikel’s departure could hand a
lifeline to Michael Essien, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid with
Mourinho.
