Julius OkorieFormer Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has described as huge mistake Chelsea’s failure to take advantage of FIFA Special transfer window to sign Victor Osimhen, ahead of the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday.
The Stamford Bridge landlords made another mistake according to Mikel by opting to sign 22-year-old Liam Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m rather than invest in an established goalscorer like Osimhen.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe FIFA Club World Cup noted Mikel who had over a decade sojourn at the Stamford Bridge, is another very serious competitive championship that demands that you parade your best.
Speaking to The London Standard Mikel, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge, expressed disappointment at Chelsea’s option.
Chelsea will travel to the United States on Friday to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, buoyed by their recent UEFA Conference League triumph. However, Mikel believes that to truly compete for global honours, Chelsea must prioritise proven firepower.
“For me, the Club World Cup is another trophy to be won,” Mikel said.
“Of course, Chelsea compete to win. It’s £100m if you win it. That gives a massive advantage against other Premier League teams. Winning trophies is the culture of Chelsea Football Club. That’s what we do. That’s what we are.”
Despite acknowledging Delap’s effort and potential after his 12-goal return for a relegated Ipswich side last season, Mikel questioned whether he is ready for the demands of leading the line at a club of Chelsea’s stature.
“I just hope that it’s going to be the right decision,” Mikel remarked.
“I like Liam Delap. He’s a good young striker who works his socks off. But is he a proven goalscorer in the Premier League? Can he do it at a big club like Chelsea? That’s the question. It’s about how the manager works with him and develops him.”
Mikel has consistently championed Osimhen’s suitability for Chelsea, and he did not hold back in reiterating his stance, suggesting the club may have missed a golden opportunity.
“With Victor Osimhen, if you want the finished article, someone who can come in straight away, get you goals, win you trophies, and put you in the top four, you have to pay the big bucks. That’s what the big clubs do,” he said.
While Osimhen’s hefty wage demands have reportedly cooled interest from several elite clubs, Mikel insisted Chelsea’s tradition is immediate success and that the Napoli striker fits that bill perfectly.
“If you want somebody to evolve over the next two, three, four years, which is what the club has done, then that also makes sense. But Chelsea Football Club’s culture is winning straight away. If you want to win, you have to bring in a Victor Osimhen.”
While Osimhen is still available on the market for €75m, and everyone watching to see where the pendulum swings, Galatasaray are working hard to see whether their efforts can spring a surprise.
READ ALSO:Victor Osimhen Will Be A Super Hit In The EPL, Says Mikel
The Turkish giants at the last count have concluded arrangement to sell one of their training grounds to raise at least €800-900 million to battle suitors in the Osimhen Project.
Although some analysts say Galatasaray are not favoured to land Osimhen, the club remains optimistic refusing to rule out last minute miracle.
Chelsea, who are the 8th most followed football club on social media according to CIES Football Observatory, begin their Club World Cup campaign against American side Los Angeles FC on June 16.
The Blues boast of social media following of 152.9 million.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
