Victor Osimhen could not complete a late move to Chelsea this summer. (Image: Getty.)
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has teased the prospect of Victor Osimhen heading to Stamford Bridge in either January or next summer, insisting that the “deal will be done” if a few small details can be finalised.
The Napoli striker was one of deadline day’s biggest sagas, having already been replaced by Antonio Conte in Italy through Blues forgotten man Romelu Lukaku, with Osimhen's future at Napoli considered over.
However, no club could meet both Napoli's and the player’s demands and the deadline passed without a deal in place for Osimhen. He then secured a loan move to Galatasaray, with the Turkish window still open until September 13, potentially with one eye on heading to the Premier League in 2025.
Mikel, seemingly privy to insider negotiations that took place, explained that both Chelsea and Osimhen’s representatives were keen to strike an agreement up until the deadline but ran out of time.
And he is confident that a transfer can be resurrected, telling his The Obi One Podcast: “That’s (Osimhen’s reported high wage demands) definitely not true. I know what Victor wanted, I know what the club offered him, I know where we got to.
John Obi Mikel in action for Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
“We finally got to a compromise, both sides had to compromise, (then) paperwork, medical and a few issues that we just couldn’t get over the line and then we didn’t have much time. The one time you want the seconds and minutes and hours to slow down a bit, it just didn’t work.
“I think both sides really played their part in terms of getting the deal done and I commend Chelsea for that because I could see the ambition of where they want to take this club now.
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“Also on Victor’s side, I think if we have to pick this back up again, whatever it is, January or next summer, we know where we are, we know where we have stopped. It’s just the little details that needs to be finalised and the deal will be done.
“So for me, the club is in a very happy place with Victor, Victor is in a very happy place with the club.”
Mikel’s optimism that a deal can be struck before next season will be music to the ears of Chelsea supporters, having failed to add to their striking options beyond the £5million addition of Marc Guiu from Barcelona in July.
