Mikel still looks likely to depart Stamford Bridge.
Galatasaray are preparing to reignite their interests in Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel by placing a £16m bid for the midfielder, reports the Daily Mail.
Mikel has spent seven years at the club having been signed by Jose Mourinho in 2006 during the manager’s first spell at Stamford Bridge.
The deal to bring the Nigerian in from Norwegian side Lyn Oslo was highly controversial, as the midfielder had originally agreed to join Manchester United 12 months earlier.
However, issues arose surrounding representation and despite being presented in a Red Devils shirt Mikel claimed he had been pressurised and really wanted to join Chelsea.
The matter was resolved when the Blues agreed to pay United £12m in compensation, as well as £4m to Lyn Oslo to actually sign the player.
Since then the 26-year-old has become an important member of the first team at the Bridge, having played 278 matches in all competitions for the club to date.
Yet in June this year Mikel claimed he had been convinced by former Chelsea and current Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba to join the Turkish champions.
Although a move never materialised at the time the Champions League quarter-finalists have maintained their interest in the Nigeria international and now look set to increase the £13m offer they lined up last month.
Mourinho no longer sees Mikel as an important part of his plans in west London and would be open to allowing the midfielder to move – especially as the Portuguese manager is keeping tabs on Benfica’s Nemanja Matic and Geoffrey Kondogbia of Sevilla, who play in the same position.
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