‘We are currently in talks’ – West Brom-linked player responds amid latest speculation
John Obi Mikel has remained tight-lipped on speculation linking him a move to West Brom but the former Chelsea midfielder has revealed he’s in talks with a number of clubs.
Mikel, 33, is a free agent after quitting Trabzonspor in March as the Turkish Super Lig continued amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In July, Sky Sports reported that the holding midfielder was on West Brom’s radar while, more recently, Nigerian news website This Day Live claimed that he is one of Slaven Bilic’s top targets.
Now, Mikel has spoken out about his future and although he refused to respond to speculation linking him with the Baggies and Stoke, he did say that he’s open to a move back to English football.
“Yes, there are interested clubs and England is a strong possibility and why not,” Mikel told BBC Sport Africa, as quoted on the BBC Sport website.
“We are currently in talks with clubs and there is absolutely no hurry. I can only wait to see what happens.”
A lot of West Brom fans will look at Mikel and see a midfielder who is past his prime and on the wrong side of 30.
While the Baggies would prefer to bring the average age of their squad down, the state of play in the transfer market this summer might mean that adding strength in depth with free agents is the way forward.
Mikel has a lot of experience.
In 11 years at Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles, multiple FA and League Cups as well as the Champions League and Europa League.
West Brom are going to be heading into next season without Chris Brunt and Gareth Barry in their midfield and Mikel is younger than both of them.
Signing Mikel would still see the average age go down compared to last season and we wouldn’t be against the idea of the Nigeria international heading to the club.
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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