Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has expressed his disapproval of Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s decision to bring in Liam Delap instead of targeting Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
Chelsea recently completed the signing of Delap from Ipswich Town for a reported fee of £30 million.
The 22-year-old forward netted 12 goals in the Premier League last season, a notable achievement for a player in a relegated team.
However, Mikel remains unconvinced that Chelsea made the right call.
“It’s not a secret. Everybody knows who I want to come to the football club and who the fans want to see at the football club. But they’ve decided to go down a different route,” Mikel stated.
The former Chelsea midfielder acknowledged Delap’s qualities but questioned his readiness for the top level, “I just hope that it’s going to be the right decision,” he added. “I like Liam Delap. He’s a good young striker who works his socks off. Is he a proven goalscorer in the Premier League? Can he do it at a big club like Chelsea? That’s the question. It’s about how the manager works with him and develops him.”
Mikel emphasized the importance of squad depth and healthy competition in the striking department.
“What we need as a team is healthy competition. You can’t win the Premier League or Champions League with just one striker. We’ve only had Nicolas Jackson. Now, he and Delap will push each other. I hope we’ll see the best of both of them at the Club World Cup,” Mikel stressed.