Conte wants £7.7m valued Chelsea midfielder to remain at club

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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants experienced defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel to stay at the club despite being closely linked with a move abroad.

BBC African football journalist Oluwashina Okeleji spoke to Mikel’s representatives who denied rumours linking Mikel with a move abroad and underlined that Conte wants to keep hold of the the Nigerian international.

Okeleji told Emre Sarigul: “Conte wants him to stay at the club and he’s also off to the Olympics.”

The Express meanwhile reported that Super Lig champions Besiktas have made a move for the experienced midfielder however, Okeleji denied the rumours.

Per the source, Chelsea would have accepted a £7.7 million bid for the Nigerian international midfielder.

“There’s nothing to the Besiktas story,” he added.

Mikel will be joining the Nigerian squad for the Olympics over the summer and is expected to return to Chelsea afterwards.

Besiktas are in the market for a central midfielder as they lacked depth last season and have Champions League football next season.

Mikel has won the Champions League, Europa League, two Premier League titles, four FA Cup titles and two League Cup titles with Chelsea since joining 10 seasons ago.

Follow Emre Sarigul @Turkish_Futbol

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