Mikel double sure Osimhen will join Chelsea in 2024 vows to 'broker that deal'

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has attempted to convince Victor Osimhen to join Chelsea and told the Napoli striker that he is going to 'broker that deal' with his former club.

Mikel starred for Chelsea during a career spanning over a decade at Stamford Bridge where he made 372 appearances for the club and won the Champions League along with four Premier League titles.

The Nigerian retired from professional football last year and was speaking with his fellow countryman, Osimhen, in a bid to lure the striker to the Premier League giants.

Osimhen idolised legendary Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as a youngster and has been tipped to leave Napoli in the summer amid the club's poor run of form and a breakdown in his relationship with the Scudetto champions.

Mikel was joined by the 24-year-old on his Obi One podcast and used part of the show to try and convince Osimhen that Chelsea should be his next destination.

Coincidentally, Chelsea are expected to move for a new centre forward in the summer despite already having Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku in their squad.

Demonstrating his savvy recruitment tactics, Mikel told Osimhen that he was '100% coming to Chelsea' despite there being likely interest from a host of Premier League and European clubs.

'It's not the time to go to Saudi,' Mikel explained to Osimhen after the striker revealed he had received offers from the Middle East.

'Next season I know you're going to come to Chelsea. I'm going to be the agent to broker that deal. You're 100% coming to Chelsea!'

'You are 100% going to Chelsea next season because we are crying out for someone like you since the big man left, Didier Drogba, we haven't had anybody with that figure and stature and can score goals in big games.

'I feel like you are that person and fit in with what we want to achieve at that club.'

Osimhen stopped short of committing his future to the Blues or any other club but did reveal the two Premier League shirts he had as a young boy growing up.

He explained that the English top-flight is the most-watched league in Nigeria and has friends who are fans of both Man United and Chelsea.

'I had two jerseys from my brother when I was a kid - Chelsea and Manchester United,' said Osimhen.

'When I was playing grassroots [I was compared to Didier Drogba]. We used to use my brothers' phone [to watch Drogba].

'I would then go on the pitch and try to [emulate] at his game [and learn]. I still watch Drogba's comps now.'

Osimhen's existing contract with Napoli runs until 2025 meaning the club are in a strong position to negotiate a high price for his departure