Marseille Not CLOSE To Signing Mikel, Fail To Meet Wage Demands

Reports at home and abroad that suggested Nigeria skipper John Obi Mikel is on the verge of joining Marseille are incorrect according to reports in the French media.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr claimed that the Ligue 1 club are in pole position for the signature of his skipper and he is set to leave Chelsea as a free agent next month.

But L’Equipe says Marseille failed to meet Mikel’s wage demands and the defensive midfielder has not yet agreed on a contract.

Marseille sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo held talks in London earlier this month, before another meeting between the Spaniard and Mikel’s intermediaries at a hotel in Paris.

The 29-year-old Mikel is known to be on the radar of Chinese Super League teams and Valencia.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel