Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, is on the verge of making a surprise switch to Spanish side, Valencia, before the end of January.
The 29-year-old midfielder was widely expected to be the next big name to move to the Chinese Super League.
Mikel would have benefitted from a sizeable wage, certainly more than he currently earns at Chelsea if he moved to the Far East – but instead he’s heading to the Spanish La Liga.
Valencia sporting director, Jesus Garcia Pitarch, has revealed he met with the former Lyn Oslo man to put forward a proposal a little over a week ago.
But manager Cesare Prandelli’s decision to quit the Spanish club after just 10 games since that meeting could throw a spanner into the works.
“In the case of Obi Mikel, with Chelsea’s permission, I met with him in London on Christmas Day,” Pitarch told Spanish outlet Superdeporte.
“I informed him of the option [of joining Valencia]. He said he would think about it.”
Prandelli left Valencia on Saturday after growing frustrated with their lack of ambition in the transfer market.
The club have now beaten others vying for his Olympic bronze medallist’s signature. Chinese club, Shanghai SIPG, French outfit, Marseille, as well as Inter and AC Milan, both of Italy, were sniffing around, reports OwngoalNigeria.
Mikel will sign a four-year deal with the La Liga side after Chelsea agreed to let him leave Stamford Bridge six months before his contract expires in the summer on a free.
He has been with Chelsea for 11 seasons, but has barely featured under new boss Antonio Conte.
The summer signing of N’Golo Kante meant the anchor midfield position was gone, and now Mikel has realised his first-team chances lie elsewhere.
Mikel, whose contract runs out in June, arrived in London in 2006 and has played 376 games for Chelsea, scoring six goals.
