Mikel Obi eye Chelsea exit

Nigeria’s Super Eagles skipper, John Mikel Obi has revealed that he would be open to one day joining his former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard in Major League Soccer.

Lampard has been influential for New York City FC, scoring 18 goals as Patrick Vieira’s side sit just two points off the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Mikel has been a Chelsea player for more than ten years and recently hinted that he will talk to other clubs in January if he isn’t offered a new deal, but he also confessed he may one day play football in the United States.

Speaking with Goal.com Mikel said, “There was absolutely no doubt that Frank wouldn’t go out there and succeed.

“I am happy that he is back to his best, doing what he loves to do and, one day, who knows, I may go over there and play with him, or play against him.

“The first few months or so, it was a bad period for him and he didn’t have the best period out there. They started raising questions here and there about his fitness and what he actually came to do in America.

“I think we, here [at Chelsea], knew he wasn’t fully fit then, but once he became fit, we can see a different Frank Lampard, the Lampard we know, scoring goals and helping the team. I think Frank will never stop scoring goals. I think when he is asleep he is still scoring goals.”

Lampard left Chelsea in 2014 and Mikel is now the second longest-serving player at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea captain John Terry.

Despite his seniority, Mikel hasn’t featured yet for Chelsea this season and, after he was left out of the League Cup victory against Leicester City, he admitted that he will struggle for starts this season.

“I know it is going to be difficult for me to get back into the team because I have missed the whole pre-season,” added Mikel.

“The manager obviously has his philosophy of the way he wants to play and I need time to get back into the way in the way he wants to do things.

“It will be difficult, but it is one challenge that I am looking forward to. Like everyone knows I don’t run away from a challenge.

“I have been at Chelsea for 11 years now, the first day I came I was fighting for my place and I am still fighting for my position. It is remarkable at the end of the day how you fight and you still end up coming out victorious and I will keep fighting for my position and hopefully I will get back into the team.”

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