Inter move for Mikel

Italian giants Inter Milan are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi in the coming summer transfer window, Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed on Tuesday.

The Nigerian international has fallen down the pecking order with Premier League giants, Chelsea, this season, starting just nine matches since the arrival of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

According to La Gazzetta, Inter boss Walter Mazzarri is lining up a £12.3m package for Mikel to add a good defensive midfielder to his side this summer. The Nerazzurri’s interest in signing Mikel comes despite his current contract at Stamford Bridge not expiring until 2017. No comment has come from Mikel’s manager concerning the reported Inter interest.

The report came while the Nigerian was on the way to Istanbul, Turkey for a UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray on Wednesday. The Turkish club was top on the list last term as possible destination for Mikel. Several other teams were listed during last summer transfer season as Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge but none materialised as the Nigerian has remained with the London club.

Mikel helped Nigeria qualify for a fifth World Cup finals in November and is expected to appear with the Super Eagles in Brazil in June.

In Abuja, Super Eagles’ players, Chigozie Agbim, Abdullahi Shehu and the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 African Nations Championship, Ejike Uzoenyi, are to showcase the team’s new jersey for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation said on Wednesday.

The NFF said in a statement by its Assistant Director, of Communications, Ademola Olajire, that the jerseys would be unveiled on Thursday in Abuja. Nigeria will wear their new jersey for the 2014 World Cup next week in a friendly against Mexico the NFF also confirmed.

The unveiling is slated to hold at the Sunday Dankaro Football House, Package B of the National Stadium Complex, Abuja, from 10am with the Minister of Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi as the special guest of honour.

The statement said that the event would also have in attendance the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, members of the National Assembley and the Chairman of the League Management Company, Nduka Irabor.

The NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari will lead the federation. The assistant coach of the Eagles, Daniel Amokachi, will represent the Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi, who is currently in the USA.

The FIFA  World Cup is scheduled to hold from June 12 to July 13 in Brazil.