Chelsea of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi has come under a fresh salvo of transfer talk, as reports indicate revived interest in him from Valencia of Spain.
Mikel has constantly been entwined in transfer speculation year in, year out and, despite frenetic efforts by his minders to ward off fresh reports, the Super Eagles captain has once again come up for another link in the summer.
The revived interest from Valencia comes at a point in which Mikel’s future is still under a cloud at Stamford Bridge, as the former Lyn Oslo of Norway star has refrained from signing a contract extension, ostensibly due to uncertainty of his future under incoming gaffer, Antonio Conte.
Los Che have a history of relations with Nigerian players, the most notable of which was former Spain youth international, Sunday Stephen (Sunny), and allnigeriasoccer.com has now reported that they are back in the hunt for Mikel’s signature.
Incidentally, Los Murciélagos had also been linked with a move for Mikel two years ago but could not wrap up a deal, which at that time had presumably been because of his high transfer fees thought to be around 15 million euros then.
However, with Valencia said to have quoted five million euros yearly wages for Mikel though the intermediary involved in negotiations, money could still be a major stumbling block for the Spanish side’s hopes of hooking the player.
Nonetheless, Valencia suits have stated that they will make a decision whether or not to acquire Mikel at the end of this season.
Dramatically, have made it crystal clear that they cannot afford the current wage bill of Mikel, who is also attracting interest from three clubs in China, even after being offered a new deal by Chelsea – which he is yet to sign.