Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has voiced his hope that Victor Osimhen will opt for a Premier League move this summer rather than heading to Saudi Arabia.
Osimhen was close to joining Chelsea last summer, but the deal fell through late in negotiations. Since then, Chelsea have signed Liam Delap from relegated Ipswich Town, seemingly ending their pursuit of the Napoli striker.
While Turkish club Galatasaray are pushing for a permanent deal and Saudi side Al-Hilal have shown strong interest, Mikel believes a move to the Middle East would be premature for the Nigerian forward.
“I still hope he makes a Premier League move this summer,” Mikel told Metro. “Arsenal and Manchester United still need a striker. I don’t think [Rasmus] Højlund is the one for United. He works hard, but he’s not going to get them into the top four or win trophies. For me, United might be the right fit.”
The former Chelsea midfielder added that Osimhen still has a lot to offer in Europe.
“I’d rather not see him go to Saudi now. He has too much potential left to fulfill in Europe. Maybe Arsenal, United, Juventus, or PSG — let’s wait and see.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s missed chance to sign Osimhen, Mikel admitted his disappointment.
“Everyone knew who I wanted at the club — and the fans did too,” he said. “It’s a shame he didn’t sign for Chelsea, especially since it’s the club he supported as a kid. But the club chose a different direction with Delap, and that’s okay. I hope it works out.”
“I just wanted someone who could hit the ground running and perform in big games. Still, we need to support Delap and hope for the best.”