Mikel Fears Chelsea Could Lose Key Players This Summer

Former Super Eagles captain and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has voiced concerns over a possible exodus of key players from Stamford Bridge this summer, warning that the club’s turbulent season has left its stars unsettled.

Speaking on the latest episode of his Obi One Podcast, Mikel, who spent 11 trophy-laden years at Chelsea, said the dressing room has not been the same since the sacking of Italian coach Enzo Maresca on January 1 following a reported spat with one of the club’s owners.

The Blues replaced him with Liam Rosenior, but results have faltered, leaving the team battling to secure a top-four finish.

Mikel noted that senior players have grown frustrated and are considering their futures.

‘Right now, we have players like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo; when they start to get phone calls from the likes of Real Madrid who is the master of stealing players from clubs, there is no smoke without fire,’ he said.

‘Cole Palmer is being linked with a move to Manchester United, Cucurella has come out to say he is thinking about his future, Enzo Fernández the same thing. Caicedo hasn’t said anything, but if he gets a phone call from Real Madrid, he is gone.’

The former midfielder added that Chelsea’s current trajectory is worrying.

‘They don’t know what their future is; they don’t know when they will start winning trophies again. They don’t want to wait for another four or five years. Do you think the next four or five years will be the time to win the Premier League?

‘Liverpool will get better, Arsenal will get better and United will get better. With all these players going, are we going to win the Premier League in the next four years? Right now, with what is happening, I think we might lose one or two senior players.’