Former Nigerian footballer Mikel Obi has revealed that he has been in regular contact with fellow player Victor Osimhen, trying to persuade him to join the English Premier League side Chelsea.

Mikel Obi mentioned that he has been sending messages and engaging with Osimhen frequently to convince him to choose Chelsea over other European clubs.

The retired footballer, who also played for Chelsea, advised the Napoli striker to manage his expectations if he joins the Blues, considering the team's current transitional phase.

Mikel Obi believes that signing Osimhen would solve Chelsea's goal-scoring issues.

"I think there's genuine interest from both sides. He loves the club and wants to come. He wants to follow in my footsteps as a Nigerian player at Chelsea. And he likes London. Instead of going to Liverpool or other places, he prefers London.

"But he also has interest from Paris and Manchester United. I'm still pushing, sending messages, and trying to ensure he doesn't expect too much. We need a striker who will score goals, and that's what Victor will provide. He's not the most skillful, but goals are guaranteed," Mikel Obi said during a Web Summit in Qatar.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Chelsea is in contact with Napoli to sign Osimhen, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Watch the video below:

🗣 John Obi Mikel: “Osimhen loves Chelsea and wants to come, he wants to follow my footsteps as a Nigerian to play for Chelsea” 🇳🇬💙 pic.twitter.com/5PUSc0kDuK

— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) July 29, 2024