Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel has expressed his desire to see Victor Osimhen move to the Premier League this summer instead of accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia.
Osimhen was reportedly close to joining Chelsea last summer, but the deal collapsed at the final stage. Chelsea have since signed Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town, a move that appears to have ended the club’s pursuit of the Napoli striker.
While Turkish giants Galatasaray are pushing for a permanent deal and Saudi club Al-Hilal have shown strong interest, Mikel believes a move to the Middle East would be premature for Osimhen.
“I hope there is still a Premier League move for him this summer,” Mikel told Metro. “I think the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United still need a striker. I don’t think [Rasmus] Højlund is the guy for Manchester United. He works hard, but he’s not the one to get them back in the top four or win trophies. For me, Manchester United might be the destination.”
Mikel, a former Chelsea star, added that he hopes Osimhen remains in Europe to fulfill his potential.
“I don’t want to see him in Saudi 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 he was disappointed.
“Everyone knows who I wanted to see come to the football 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’ve loved to see someone come in and hit the ground running — someone who knows how to perform in big games and big competitions. Still, we have to support Delap and hope for the best.”