Chelsea current second longest serving player John Obi Mikel won’t be leaving Chelsea on loan this January, nigeriasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.
The Nigerian has been frozen out of the first team set up at Chelsea by coach Antonio Conte, but even though he will most definitely leave the team in January, a loan move won’t be the case.
Per FIFA regulations a player in the final six months of his deal can’t leave on loan to another team, and Mikel is in the final six months of his contact at Chelsea after 11 years at the club.
Mikel can only leave on a permanent transfer which best explains the reason why the Super Eagles captain is weighing up offers properly before committing to any of the clubs intrested in his services.
Inter-Milan, Marseille and three teams in China namely Shanghai SIPG, Hebei Fortune and Shanghai Shenhua have all enquire about his availability this winter, when the transfer window opens.
It is however believed that Mikel wants to remain in Europe, due to family reasons instead of a move to China where he will definitely earn more.