Chelsea will be looking to remould the side in Jose’s image over the next few months. They have been linked with several defensive midfielders as part of the evolution but one of the first transfers may be one away from the club. But quotes that were attributed to John Obi Mikel about a potential move have quickly been rubbished by other reports.
After joining Chelsea in 2006, John Obi Mikel has quietly become a piece of the furniture, without ever really hitting the heights that were predicted for him at the start of his career.
He has however been an efficient player and an important part of the continuity and success at The Bridge. One of the most surprising elements of the story is the reminder that the player is still only 26 years of age. Despite his relative youth he just seems to have lost a bit of energy over the last year or so. Maybe a move elsewhere will re-invigorate the player regardless of whether there is any truth in the supposed statement that he made about Galatasaray’s interest in the player.
The Daily Mail originally ran the following statement:
‘I’m very pleased with Galatasaray’s offer,’ Mikel told Sabah, a daily Turkish newspaper.
‘I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move.
‘I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it’s now time for me to leave.
‘I’m still only 26 and it’s great to receive an offer from a club (Galatasaray) playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.’
However, reports this afternoon suggest that the quotes were faked with ESPN saying:
However, Chelsea have flatly denied that Mikel, who is currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup in Brazil, has given an interview to the publication or said anything regarding his future at the club.
We shall keep you updated on these somewhat bizarre events.
Follow us on Twitter @soccersweep10
