One of the understated enigmas of the Chelsea team which won all and sundry in a purple patch which extended over the years is John Michael Nchekwube Obinna. As complex as his name is, his playing style is in complete contrast to it. John Obi Mikel as he was simply known has been a loyal servant for the club and has kept on giving his best long after he ceased to be a regular in the team.
The act of breaking up play and unselfishly passing it on to the nearest advanced player was typified by Mikel and he kept on doing that year after year. He has been with the Blues since 2006 and has chalked up 247 appearances till now scoring a single goal in a decade which is a readymade topic for banter amongst the Chelsea faithful.
But we might be seeing an end to this long association with the midfielder having afforded 0 minutes this season. We take a look at 3 prospective destinations if he chooses to remain in the Premier League.
LEICESTER CITY
Though it might be a long shot, the Foxes have been light in midfield with the opposition overpowering them easily this season. Although, Ranieri is a fan of midfielders who cover an insane amount of grass and are basically all-action players, in the current scenario Mikel will not be a bad option for them.
He brings a degree of calmness and his experience is immense in both the Champions League and the Premier League, which will come into play sooner rather than later.
SWANSEA CITY
The Swans are in dire straits right now with an American Bob Bradley in charge of them as they languish in the 19th spot which could pretty soon turn 20 if Sunderland win a match. The Swans are in need of a centre-back but also a player who can sit in front of the back-four and prevent the attackers to barge into the back four without any resistance.
Their midfield has been shockingly light-weight with players failing to track back after being caught out of position and Mikel’s leadership and calmness is something they desperately need.
WEST HAM UNITED
The Hammers have been all over the place this season. Disjointed throughout the team, they have relied on the brilliance of Dimitri Payet and Antonio to bail them out on several occasions. But it is high time they fixed this aspect of their game. Noble is no longer consistent and the other midfield options are too adventurous in nature to afford any balance to the team.
Mikel can join the defence and attack perfectly, linking them up and turning over possession with his little accurate passes. He can also shield the porous backline. The move might have hurdles but he is someone West Ham can do with.
