Mourinho blocks Mikel moves to leave Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has refused
to sanction the sale of midfielder John Mikel
Obi, delivering a blow to United Arab Emirates
suitors Al Ain and Al Wahda. The Nigeria
international, who started only six league
games last season, wants to leave Stamford
Bridge after failing to hold down a regular
           starting place.

The 28-year-old, who has two years left on his
contract, has been told he remains part of
manager Mourinho’s future plans. “There’s
absolutely no truth to reports linking Mikel
with a move to Turkey or any Chinese club for
that matter,” a source close to the talks said.
“Only two clubs from the UAE showed strong
interest last month but they could not meet his
club’s valuation.
“Mikel has a contract with Chelsea until 2017,
as things stand he will not be leaving the club
this transfer window as speculated.
”Mikel who moved to Chelsea in the summer of
2006 has increasingly become a fringe member
of the squad due to the form of Nemanja
Matic. With the emergence of highly-rated
midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the Super Eagle
has fallen down the pecking order at the club
ahead of the 2015/16 season. Fenerbahce are
reportedly interested in signing Mikel but
Chelsea will only listen to a US $16.8 million
offer.
The Turkish club’s president Aziz Yildirim has
told the local media they cannot meet
Chelsea’s valuation. “Chelsea want 15 million
euros and Mikel asked for €5 million a season
over four years. We are talking 35 million
euros,” Yildirim told reporters at their Topuk
Yayla training ground.

– http://www.vanguardngr.com