Transfers - Gossip Shop: Inter eye Obi

Eurosport - Wed, 13 May 10:50:00 2009

The problem with managers who leave a club where they were held in high regard is that they invariably come back to haunt their former employers at one time or another.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Chelsea John Obi Mikel - 0

Take Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho as a case in point. The Portuguese tactician was loved in the Chelsea dressing room during a successful (on the pitch) and entertaining (off it) spell at Stamford Bridge.

So much so that several of his former charges would be willing to once again link up with him, given half a chance.

At least the ever-egotistical Mourinho thinks so, and we've already seen him linked with moves for the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba.

Of course, none of the above have been tempted by a move to Italy - although Drogba reportedly flew to Milan at the weekend, for a dinner date according to his people - but the latest name to be thrown into the hat could well be set for a reunion with his former mentor this summer.

The player? John Obi Mikel. The Nigeria international has been targeted by Inter to breathe life into their ageing midfield, with £15 million lined up to lure him to the San Siro district of Milan at the end of the season.

Mikel is far from a favourite with Blues fans and with funds needed to be found from somewhere if Chelsea are to invest in their own squad, £15m could be enough to tempt Guus Hiddink to sanction his departure.

One man who won't be leaving West London this summer though is Nicolas Anelka.

The France striker has been linked with a summer move - his 10th of a nomadic career - but his agent has poured water on the fires of speculation by insisting Anelka will not be moving anywhere.

Over to one of Anelka's former clubs, Arsenal, where the inquest into their disappointing campaign has begun in earnest, even before the season is over.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on who Arsene Wenger needs to bring in if the Gunners are to arrest their worryingly long run of trophyless years.

Gossip Shop believes a defender and a striker are priorities, and there can't be many out there who disagree.

Certainly the Daily Mail recognises the need for a top-class stopper, with a hit list of four stoppers put forward for consideration.

So, how about Everton's Joleon Lescott (£15m) or Lucio of Bayern Munich (£12m)? Or Paris St Germain's Mamadou Sakho (£12m) and Cristian Zapata of Udinese (£12m)?

The Star offers another suggestion in the shape of Gary Cahill . But considering the £20m price tag slapped on his head by current employers Bolton - not to mention Arsenal's thriftiness in the transfer market - a move for that kind of money seems unlikely. He's no Andrei Arshavin, after all.

In other tittle-tattle, Martin O'Neill has been suitably impressed by West Brom striker Marc-Antoine Fortune and the Aston Villa boss is currently leading the race to sign the on-loan Nancy ace.

Indeed, anyone who is any good at West Brom will be fair game if, as expected, the Baggies go down this season. And fitting neatly into that category is winger Chris Brunt, who Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is ready to splash £3m on.

And finally, it would be remiss of Gossip Shop not to mention Carlos Tevez today, despite most people having become terribly bored by the uncertainty over his future, such has been the saturation coverage since his revelations to the Sunday newspapers

The question of where the Manchester United striker will end up next season is already threatening to become this summer's biggest transfer saga, and with two further possible destinations suggested in today's papers, the story is not going to disappear anytime soon.

The Sun reports - although there are no quotes to back the claim up, not even a made-up one from a 'close friend' - that Tevez will go back on his promise to United fans not to join bitter rivals Liverpool by actually heading down the M62 and signing a deal at Anfield.

And the Star claims Milan have offered £20m for the Argentine's services, with a further £20m set aside for his wages over four years.

So that's who Kia Joorabchian was talking to on the phone during Sunday's Manchester derby.

Eurosport

Comment 17 - 36 of 56

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  1. I suspect nami.p (18) has never actually watched­ chelsea (I go to every game) as it is well known that­ Mikel is the worse passer of the ball in the squad.­ Unless you count passes to the opposition as successful­ passing!

    From Neil, on Tue 12 May 4:24PM

  2. Ballack will be gone B4 Obi

    From J, on Tue 12 May 4:20PM

  3. I'm sure Chelsea will not miss Mikel . Ballack is­ more than capable to fill in as his replacement­ ankle-snapping , shirt-pulling butcher !!

    From Tim, on Tue 12 May 4:12PM

  4. If he is not hapy at chelsea than it is his bad call­ not to join Man Utd, that you saw same hapend to Robin­ when he change his mind not to join Red Army

    From trepca72, on Tue 12 May 4:05PM

  5. scott s yeah i know what your saying mate about ballack­ and drogba as much as i dont like his rolling around he­ is a top striker and ballack is class but needs to­ dictate games more for you plus if you sell you gotta­ replace and then your not really strengthening your­ squad as much as i laughed at the time you was robbed­ big time and should be in the cl final with us but i­ thought when you were against 10 men you could have got­ a second goal but hey im sure you will there next year­ so who cares its football and it comes around every­ season cheers for your comments mate good luck in the­ fa cup and next season

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Tue 12 May 4:03PM

  6. OBI STAY IN CHEALSEA.IF U HAVE TO MOVE GO TO MAN U.

    From Kester, on Tue 12 May 3:58PM

  7. MIKEL HAS MORE THAN HE HAS SHOWN.HE NEEDS A COACH LIKE­ WENGER OR FERGIE TO DISCOVER THE MORE IN HIM.LET HIM GO­ TO MUNITED OR ARSENAL.NOT INTER.THE SPECIAL ONE WILL­ SOON LEAVE INTER

    From Kester, on Tue 12 May 3:47PM

  8. I heard drogba was trying out for the Ivory Coast­ diving team for 2012. Probably would need a push start.

    From allanbarry1, on Tue 12 May 3:45PM

  9. i think is better for mikel to move away from stanford­ bridge,because they have many big for nothing ace whom­ always keep him on bench during the CL.and with that­ crazy german,ballak,i think is better for him to move­ down to mailan.inter dont have a player like him.

    From petlopezm, on Tue 12 May 3:23PM
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    From shidigerade08, on Tue 12 May 3:20PM

  11. Drogba has overstayed his welcome in Chelsea, let him­ try his "legs" somewhere else.

    From Alex

    From Sam, on Tue 12 May 3:16PM

  12. Comment 5, they never used entertaining off the pitch­ but confrontational. Is you who should remove speck­ from your eye.

    From dapfash, on Tue 12 May 3:10PM

  13. Timar Krisztian, I thought that before. I like him but­ inconsistant. again chelsea would need to move to a­ front pairing and if do that your looking for 1 of them­ to be a poacher.

    to people saying get rid of drogba­ ballack or deco. Drogba has been 1 of best players in­ world as of late. Deco has something noone else has, he­ has just been injured. and ballacks experience and­ leadership is irreplaceable. I would extend his­ contract but cut his wages by a fair bit and play him a­ lor less, no longer starting 11 def has another top­ season in him. peoploe need to remember he does the­ most running in the chelsea team. deco should only move­ on if someone younger but similar can come in and only­ player I see like that is diego who is going to juve.

    From yip, on Tue 12 May 2:46PM

  14. they found a nice picture of mikel..lol

    From the_smiths_rule, on Tue 12 May 2:44PM

  15. CARLOS TEVEZ TO CHELSEA PERIOD!!!!!!!!!

    From Shaun S, on Tue 12 May 2:34PM

  16. dazmanutd, I dont think he would sign for utd now. he­ doesnt seem a player to say he wants something­ different then not move. just my opinion. plus any team­ is entitled to go for him. I think he knows he wont­ ever be 1st choice at utd because of the players they­ have dont fully suit him.

    I dont know if id have him­ at chelsea. I think chelsea need someone who runs non­ stop cause we do look like dont care a lot, especially­ if winning. where would he fit in though? 4-3-3.­ he'd need to play on the rightbut doesnt offer­ enough width n a like joe cole plus would rather keep­ quaresma. 4-4-2 play with drogba, maybe work but I see­ Anelka a better partner plus Id rather have a more­ poacher to help drogba, like aguero or villa or etoo or­ someone. and kalou would suit in a 4-4-2, we also have­ a young talent in di santo who might flourish with a­ partner. he confusses me

    From yip, on Tue 12 May 2:29PM

  17. Chelsea should try to sign a striker.Not to expensive­ but very fast,strong,and whit an extremly big­ shootpower.That's Obafemi Martins,and a player like­ him i think it cost around £10m.I think he is a good­ option.What do you think?

    From Timar Krisztian, on Tue 12 May 2:27PM

  18. i would say you already have one of the best holding­ midfielders in essien so mikel should be his understudy­ you should get rid of ballack and drogba before mikel­ as he is young so as time on his side

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Tue 12 May 2:24PM

  19. mikel is best passer that chelsea can boast of.And he­ is far talented than both lampard and ballack he need­ more game and correct tutulage to fulfill his potential­ moreso he is a young and srong player.Big mistake if he­ is sold.

    From nami p, on Tue 12 May 2:16PM

  20. end product not good enough get rid

    From gwyn397, on Tue 12 May 2:10PM
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