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 season switch window however in the end led to nothing, after which the striker sealed a shock mortgage to Galatasaray when it grew to become clear he wouldn’t play for Napoli once more this season.
Osimhen has confronted loads of criticism from a piece 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 attempting to carry Osimhen to Stamford Bridge, moved to set the document straight.
“Everybody is aware of I used to be concerned within the deal,” he advised The Obi One Podcast. “I used to be concerned in attempting to get Victor Osimhen to the membership. Rather a lot 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 wish 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’ve got stored in touch. I simply wish to say that’s completely not true. Victor isn’t 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 positively not true.
“We have been very, very shut, I will put it that means. We have been hours away from getting this deal carried out, 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 carried out, 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’ve got to begin from. I used to be the man proper in the midst 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 obtained to. We lastly obtained to a compromise. Each side needed to compromise and we obtained 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.
“Each side performed their elements by way of getting the deal carried out. I commend Chelsea for that, as a result of I might see the ambition of the place they wish to take the membership, and on Victor’s facet, how a lot he needed to come back to the membership. He was dissatisfied 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 careworn a future switch was removed from assured, Mikel claimed issues might 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 rather a lot to show in Europe. He desires to come back to Chelsea and assist the membership get again to the place we ought to be. He is aware of he can rating plenty of objectives within the Premier League.
“There are not any points [between Chelsea and Osimhen]. If we’ve got to choose this up once more in January or subsequent summer season, we all know the place we’re. Simply little particulars that should be finalised and the deal might be carried out. I am not going to relaxation, I am going to ensure I get him to the membership.”
