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Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has expressed his hope that Victor Osimhen will opt for a move to the Premier League this summer rather than accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia.
Osimhen was reportedly close to joining Chelsea last summer, but the deal fell through at the final stage. Since then, Chelsea have signed Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town, a move that appears to have ended their pursuit of the Napoli striker.
Meanwhile, Turkish giants Galatasaray are pushing for a permanent deal, and Saudi club Al-Hilal have also shown strong interest. However, Mikel believes a transfer to the Middle East would be premature for Osimhen at this stage of his career.
“I hope there is still a Premier League move for him this summer,” Mikel told Metro. “I think clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United still need a striker. I don’t believe [Rasmus] Højlund is the right fit for Manchester United. He works hard, but he’s not the player to get them back into the top four or to win trophies. For me, Manchester United might be the destination.”
Mikel, a former Chelsea star, added that he hopes Osimhen stays in Europe to fully realize his potential.
“I don’t want to see him in Saudi Arabia right now because he still has so much to offer in Europe. It would be a shame to see him go there. Maybe Arsenal, United, Juventus, or PSG — let’s see what happens.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s missed opportunity to sign Osimhen, Mikel admitted his disappointment.
“Everyone knows who I wanted to see come to the club and who the fans wanted,” he said. “It’s a shame he didn’t join Chelsea, the club he supported as a kid. But the club has gone in a different direction by signing Delap, and that’s fine. I hope it works out for him.”
“But I would have loved to see someone come in and hit the ground running — someone who knows how to perform in big games and competitions. Still, we have to support Delap and hope for the best.”
