Besiktas to make new €5m bid for Mikel

Besiktas are set to offer Chelsea €5m for the services of midfielder Mikel Obi, reports in the Turkish media have stated.

The Turkish giants had failed in an earlier bid to sign Mikel but have now returned to make another offer for the Nigerian, and are hopeful of sealing a deal, before the end of the transfer window.

Mikel has played fringe roles in Chelsea in recent seasons, and it doesn’t look like changing this term. The UEFA Champions League winner is yet to play a match for the Blues this season, sitting on the bench for the opening two league games and the Community Shield clash against Arsenal.

The arrival of Serbian Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona has seen Mikel drop lower in the pecking order, with the Nigerian now playing behind Ramires and Kurt Zouma. He is in danger of falling further down the pecking order, if youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek breaks into the first team.

Besiktas are offering Mikel first team football but a substantial pay cut if he decides to make the move.

Former international Edema Fuludu, who also played professionally in Turkey, said the deal would be good for Mikel, adding that the player should consider regular football ahead of financial benefit.

He said, “His (Mikel’s) pay may not be as good as what he is earning in Chelsea if he joins Besiktas, but it will help his career. Mikel has spent considerable years in Chelsea but he’s not been consistently playing first team football.

“Besiktas play in the Champions League, so they are a big side too. It will help Mikel’s career if he joins them. Several good players have left big clubs to play for smaller clubs and then revive their careers.”

Mikel was earlier offered a lucrative deal to join United Arab Emirates side Al Ain this summer and was also targeted by Besiktas rivals, Fenerbahce, but the Turkish club were scared off by Chelsea’s £10.5m asking price.

The player has also confirmed he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge and see out the remaining two years left on his contract. Blues manager Jose Mourinhosaid he wants him to remain at the club.

Mikel said, “I have two years left on my contract here and want to see them out. I am happy here and we will see what happens. I do want to stay, the manager wants me to stay so I don’t have any issues.”