Thursday, 20th June, 2013
Chelsea appear poised to lose their first contracted player of the summer, with John Obi Mikel announcing he is set for a move to join former team-mate Didier Drogba at Galatasaray.
New manager Jose Mourinho looks certain to lose Mikel to the Turkish giants, after they submitted a bid to take the Nigerian away from Stamford Bridge, despite his contract lasting until 2017.
Drogba made his way to Turkey in the January transfer window this year, after a spell at Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua, which followed his departure from Chelsea in 2012.
The Champions League winner is understood to be helping Mikel make his mind up about the transfer, having himself scored five goals in 13 league appearances for the Turkish title winners.
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Mikel told Turkish newspaper Sabah: "I am very happy that Galatasaray came in with a bid. I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a great city, that Galatasaray is a great club, and that I should change."
The 26-year-old joined Chelsea in 2006 from Norwegian outfit FK Lyn, and went on to play 277 times for the former Premier League champions.
He managed 22 league games this season, alongside his Champions League experiences, which he is also guaranteed with Galatasaray.
"I have been playing for Chelsea for [a] long [time] and it is now time to change", Mikel added. "Negotiations are at an advanced stage between Chelsea and Galatasaray.
"Chelsea will not hamper the move and with regard to my salary there is no problem. The only outstanding issue is that the clubs need to agree."
Mikel is currently playing in the Confederations Cup for Nigeria in Brazil and managed the full 90 minutes of their 6-1 win against minnows Tahiti.
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