Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has voiced strong support for Victor Osimhen making a move to the Premier League this summer, while also revealing behind-the-scenes discussions with the striker about his future.
Although Chelsea had once been considered the frontrunner for Osimhen’s signature, Mikel suggests the club has now taken a different path—leaving the door open for Arsenal or Manchester United to step in.
Osimhen had a sensational season on loan at Galatasaray, netting 37 goals in just 41 appearances. Despite this remarkable performance, his parent club Napoli—now under the management of Antonio Conte—reportedly have no intention of reintegrating him into their squad for the upcoming season.
While Turkish side Galatasaray would love to keep him, and Saudi clubs such as Al-Hilal are making lucrative offers, Mikel believes the Nigerian forward should remain in Europe and pursue his dream of playing in the English Premier League.
“I still hope he ends up in the Premier League this summer,” Mikel said in an interview with Metro. “Both Arsenal and Manchester United are in need of a quality striker.”
Mikel shared that Osimhen grew up as a Chelsea supporter and was previously enthusiastic about joining the London club. Talks reportedly progressed last summer, and once again this year, but a final agreement never materialized.
Now, Chelsea seem to be heading in a different direction, especially with the imminent arrival of young striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. Delap is expected to compete with Nicolas Jackson for the central striker position, further diminishing Osimhen’s chances of joining his boyhood club.
“It’s unfortunate he didn’t get the chance to play for Chelsea, a club he loved while growing up,” Mikel reflected. “I was really hoping to see someone like him come in and make an immediate impact—especially someone who’s proven he can perform in big matches.”
The ex-Chelsea midfielder firmly believes that Osimhen is still committed to playing in one of Europe’s top leagues and sees the Premier League as the ideal platform. He criticized Manchester United’s current striker setup, questioning whether Rasmus Højlund has what it takes to lead the team forward.
“Højlund works hard, but I just don’t think he can deliver the goals United need to challenge for trophies or even finish top four,” Mikel said. Despite United not playing in Europe next season, Mikel suggests Osimhen could be open to joining them if they present a promising long-term project.
Ultimately, Mikel hinted that he’s had private conversations with Osimhen, and though he didn’t reveal specifics, he made it clear that the Nigerian striker is working hard to secure a move to a top-tier European club—possibly with Champions League football in sight.
