'He's a big Man Utd fan' - Nigeria legend Mikel urges Osimhen to snub Red Devils for Chelsea 

Nigeria legend John Obi Mikel wants Victor Osimhen to join Chelsea in the event he departs Napoli, but admitted that the Blues have a tough task on their hands to persuade him to move to Stamford Bridge because he is a supporter of Manchester United.

The future of Osimhen is beginning to dominate the back pages again after falling out and making up with Napoli in the wake of the TikTok scandal in which he was mocked for missing a penalty during a Serie A game against Bologna.

Both Manchester United and Chelsea were linked with Osimhen in the summer transfer window but were priced out a deal for the 24-year-old who was valued in the region of 150 million euros by Napoli. 

Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis remains confident of tying his most expensive acquisition Osimhen to a new deal in a bid to fend off interest from the Premier League giants but the major stumbling block in contract renewal talks is the striker's release clause. 

"I hope he comes to Chelsea. From the noises that I hear, he is a big United (fan), I think probably. I hope he comes to Chelsea," Mikel said on The Obi One podcast.

Mikel believes Osimhen has all the tools to succeed in the Premier League and outlined the qualities he would bring to the club that win the race for his signature.

"I think he does. When I look back at him, few years ago I'll say no but now watching him last season and this season, I would say definitely. 

"He will come into the Premier League and he will slot right in. He will get you goals, he will run behind defenders, he will stretch the team, and that's what probably when you look at a lot of the teams now in the Premier League, that's what they are looking for, a striker who wants to run behind the defenders because it helps your team.

"He stretches the defenders, the game becomes open and then you can create chances and that's what Victor will definitely give you."

Mikel is not popular among Manchester United fans after he reneged on an agreement to move to Old Trafford before his switch to Chelsea in the summer of 2006.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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