Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel has expressed continued hope that Nigeria international Victor Osimhen will join Chelsea, suggesting the striker could go on to become a club legend if he eventually makes the move, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Chelsea were in talks to sign Osimhen in the closing stages of the transfer window last summer but were unable to agree a deal with Napoli for the striker.

After a potential move to Saudi Arabia also collapsed, Osimhen, having fallen out with the hierarchy at Napoli, ended up joining Galatasaray on loan for the season, and the 26-year-old is thriving in Turkey, scoring 28 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions so far.

Chelsea remain in the market for a new striker and are considering Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who has a £30m relegation release clause in his deal.

But Mikel, who took part in negotiations between Chelsea and Osimhen last summer, says he hopes the Nigeria international make the switch to Stamford Bridge.

“He has options, even now when I talk to him he has options, loads of options,” Mikel said on The Obi One Podcast.

“For me, it’s going to be really sad if we don’t get a player who supported the club a kid growing up and wants to play for us, wants to play this football club.”

When asked if he feels Osimhen will ultimately miss out on a move to Chelsea, Mikel replied, “Listen, I hope it happens because I can see great things happening.

“I can see a great partnership happening, I can see a player coming in and becoming a massive legend for this football club.

“Make no mistake, if Victor Osimhen comes to Chelsea, he will want to break records, he will want to put himself top, top [up] there.

“His idol is [Didier] Drogba, he will want to go after his record; he will want to score goals, win us trophies, get us back to the top. That would be his mission.

“His hunger when he plays, the ambition when he plays is something that few players have, the arrogance he has, the feistiness he has that you need to be able to succeed in the Premier League as a top striker. So, for me, I can see a great partnership happening.

‘I’ve said what I have to say, I’ve done my part if the club chooses not to pursue it… fair enough.

“The player has so many options, good luck to him, good luck to Chelsea, if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.

“But the good thing about it is we know exactly where we stopped [during negotiations last summer], there’s not much in it.

“We can pick it back up, get the player straight in the door. Get him in, because we know where we’ve stopped.”