Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi will be staying at the Stamford Bridge one more season after the club manager, Jose Mourinho has refused to sanction his move away from the London club.
The Blues confirmed that they received offers from just two club for the Nigerian but none of them met the price Chelsea slammed on the attacking-turn defensive midfielder.
United Arab Emirates suitors Al Ain and Al Wahda were one of the major clubs planning to lure Mikel away from the EPL but with the new development, they might have to wait one more season before they can sign the 2005 FIFA U-20 second most valuable player of the tournament in Netherlands.
Mikel decided to quit the Stamford Bridge side after starting only six league games last season with two years more on his contract with the Blues.
"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 told BBC Sport.
"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."
Fenerbahce are reportedly interested in signing Mikel but BBC Sport understands 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 and Mikel asked for €5 million a season over four years. We are talking €35 million," Yildirim told reporters at their Topuk Yayla training ground.
"This definitely is not something we can pursue."
Mikel has made 339 appearances in all competitions and has won every possible honour for Chelsea in his nine-year stint at the London club.
He has won two English Premier League titles, the Uefa Champions League, Uefa Europa League, four English FA Cup, two League Cup and the Community Shield.
Mikel, who has been capped 70 times by his country, won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and appeared in all Super Eagles' four matches at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. BBC