John Obi Mikel reveals how shut Chelsea got here to signing Victor Osimhen
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has claimed the Blues have been agonisingly near signing striker Victor Osimhen on switch deadline day.
Talks over a mortgage transfer for Osimhen dragged on till the ultimate hours of the summer time switch window however in the end led to nothing, after which the striker sealed a shock mortgage to Galatasaray when it turned clear he wouldn’t play for Napoli once more this season.
Osimhen has confronted loads of criticism from a bit of Chelsea followers for his alleged function within the collapse of negotiations, however fellow Nigerian Mikel, who has made no secret of his function in making an attempt to deliver Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, moved to set the report straight.
“Everybody is aware of I used to be concerned within the deal,” he instructed The Obi One Podcast. “I used to be concerned in making an attempt to get Victor Osimhen to the membership. So much occurred. I hear lots of people saying this and saying that about Victor and the way grasping he’s, ‘take a paycut and are available to Chelsea’, stuff like that…
“I simply need to categorically state right here that – I do know the child, I do know the boy because the very first day he joined the nationwide crew. My relationship with him has been very, excellent. Since then, we now have saved involved. I simply need to say that’s completely not true. Victor will not be a grasping man, he simply desires to get what he deserves, and that is not an issue.”
Quizzed on experiences of wage calls for of £500,000 per week, Mikel replied: “No, he wasn’t asking for that, that is bulls**t. I do know what occurred, I used to be there within the midst of all the pieces. I can inform all people that’s undoubtedly not true.
“We have been very, very shut, I am going to put it that means. We have been hours away from getting this deal achieved, however there have been simply slight points, little issues that we simply could not recover from the road. In fact, then the medical could not be achieved, it was too late.
“However I do know precisely the place we stopped. I do know precisely the place we’re with the deal. If, ultimately in January we decide it up once more, I do know precisely the place we now have to start out from. I used to be the man proper in the course of all the pieces. For a few days, I did not sleep.”
Mikel continued: “I do know what Victor needed, I do know what the membership provided. I do know the place we received to. We lastly received to a compromise. Either side needed to compromise and we received to a compromise. Some little issues right here and there – paperwork, medicals and some points we could not recover from the road. We did not have a lot time.
“Either side performed their components by way of getting the deal achieved. I commend Chelsea for that, as a result of I may see the ambition of the place they need to take the membership, and on Victor’s facet, how a lot he needed to come back to the membership. He was disillusioned it did not occur.”
The previous Chelsea midfielder went on to insist that the Blues’ relationship with Osimhen stays as robust as ever and, whereas he burdened a future switch was removed from assured, Mikel claimed issues may transfer shortly if each events select to re-enter talks in 2025.
“I do know Victor actually needed to come back to the membership,” he mentioned. “He nonetheless is aware of he has quite a bit to show in Europe. He desires to come back to Chelsea and assist the membership get again to the place we must be. He is aware of he can rating a variety of objectives within the Premier League.
“There aren’t any points [between Chelsea and Osimhen]. If we now have to choose this up once more in January or subsequent summer time, we all know the place we’re. Simply little particulars that should be finalised and the deal will likely be achieved. I am not going to relaxation, I am going to ensure I get him to the membership.”
