Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has landed in Istanbul for discussions with Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, who continues to attract intense transfer interest, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Galatasaray striker, currently on loan from Napoli, has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea ahead of the January transfer deadline.
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Mikel, who remains a passionate advocate for Chelsea, has been vocal about his desire to see Osimhen don the Blues jersey.
รlkemizde eskiden Trabzonโda top oynamฤฑล Obi Mikel, Galatasaray antrenmanฤฑna memleketlisi Osimhenโi ziyaret etmek iรงin geliyor.
Yanฤฑnda kim var dersiniz ? Tabii ki GฤฐRESUNLU, Titanik otelleri sahibi, eski GฤฐRESUNSPOR asbaลkanฤฑ Muzaffer Aygรผn
Vah GฤฐRESUNโUM vah..#Giresunspor pic.twitter.com/A40XP3mMnM
โ Ali Oฤuzhan Keleลoฤlu (@AliOguzhanKeles) January 20, 2025
The former Super Eagles captain was spotted at Galatasarayโs Florya Metin Oktay training facility, where he interacted with Osimhen and met key figures within the club, including former Giresunspor vice president Muzaffer Aygun and the owner of Titanic Hotels.
Speaking to Football Italia, Mikel reaffirmed his mission, saying:
โI hope that Chelsea fans will finally see him come to the club. Iโll make sure I send him those text messages and calls, making sure Chelsea is his top priority.
โDidier [Drogba] is also speaking to him, sharing his ideas and what the club means to us. We all want to see Victor come to the club. If it happens, it happens.
โItโs a huge transfer fee, but if we can match it and get him to the club, that would be fantastic.โ
Mikel Obi at Galatasarayโs training ground.
Link up with Victor Osimhen pic.twitter.com/AiKapvBzp3
โ POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) January 20, 2025
This is not the first time Chelseaโs legends have rallied for Osimhenโs signature. Both Mikel and Didier Drogba were involved last summer when a potential move to Stamford Bridge fell through in the final hours of the transfer window.
Reports suggest Arsenal are actively exploring ways to secure the 26-year-oldโs services after Manchester Unitedโs ยฃ59 million bid was rejected.
Despite the interest, Osimhen has expressed his commitment to completing his loan spell with Galatasaray, though his exit clause remains a key talking point.
Napoli officials have also attempted to secure the strikerโs long-term commitment, but their efforts have been unsuccessful so far. Turkish journalist Kagan Dursun revealed that Unitedโs bid was part of a broader attempt by top European clubs to acquire Osimhen.
With Nicolas Jackson struggling to impress at Chelsea, Mikelโs visit could be pivotal in tipping the scales for the Nigerian star to consider the London club over its Premier League rivals.