Midfielder who tore up £35k-a-wk contract one of Bilic’s top targets for West Brom – reports
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel is one of Slaven Bilic’s top targets for West Brom this summer, according to Nigerian news outlet This Day.
Sky Sports reported in July that Mikel, 33, is “attracting interest” from the Baggies after quitting Turkish club Trabzonspor in March by mutual consent.
This Day now reports on their website that while it is unknown whether serious talks have taken place between West Brom and Mikel, the Nigeria international is one of the most-wanted players at The Hawthorns ahead of next season.
It is not hard to see why the Baggies might want to sign Mikel.
Gareth Barry seems as though he’ll be joining Chris Brunt in exiting The Hawthorns so extra bodies are needed in the midfield.
Barry and Brunt are also two very experienced players and Mikel might be brought in to add a bit of experience without taking the average age of the squad any higher as he’s younger than those two.
Mikel has also won it all in English football.
During his 11 years at Stamford Bridge, the Nigerian won the Premier League twice, multiple FA and League Cups as well as the Champions League and Europa League.
If Bilic wants to add some Premier League experience to his squad then we would not be against signing Mikel on a free transfer.
However, any deal for the ex-Chelsea and Middlesbrough man is going to depend on his wage demands.
The Sun has previously reported that Mikel was earning £35,000-a-week on his contract at Trabzonspor before he sensationally quit due to the Turkish season not being put on hold amid the coronavirus pandemic.
If West Brom sign him, we don’t expect them to offer him that much when he could be playing more of a squad role.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips has told the Baggies to take a gamble on signing this former Leeds attacker.
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