Former Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel, has shared his wish for Victor Osimhen to move to the Premier League this summer rather than accepting an offer from Saudi Arabia.
Osimhen was reportedly on the verge of joining Chelsea last summer, but the deal fell through at the last minute. Chelsea have since signed Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town, which seems to have brought an end to their pursuit of the Napoli striker.
While Turkish side Galatasaray are pushing for a permanent deal and Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal have expressed strong interest, Mikel believes a move to the Middle East would be too soon for Osimhen.
“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 think [Rasmus] Højlund is the solution for Manchester United. He works hard, but he’s not the one to bring them back into the top four or win trophies. For me, Manchester United might be the best destination.”
Mikel, a former Chelsea star, added that he hopes Osimhen stays in Europe to reach his full 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 — we’ll see what happens.”
Looking back on Chelsea’s missed opportunity to sign Osimhen, Mikel expressed his disappointment.
“Everyone knows who I wanted to see at 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 chosen a different path with Delap, and that’s fine. I hope it works out for him.”
“But I would’ve loved to see someone come in and make an immediate impact — someone who knows how to perform in big games and competitions. Still, we have to support Delap and hope for the best.”
