John Obi Mikel ‘agrees to join Galatasaray’ from Chelsea

    

John Obi Mikel (right) is thought to be ready to leave Chelsea (Picture: AP)

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has agreed to join Turkish side Galatasaray, according to reports in his native 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.

John Obi Mikel (left) has won eight trophies since moving to Chelsea (Picture: AP)

MORE:
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 , 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.