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John Obi Mikel is desperate for Victor Osimhen to sign for Chelsea and has told the striker he will 'make sure' a deal happens.

The Nigerian international starred in Napoli's Serie A title win last season, scoring 26 goals in 32 top-flight appearances.

Osimhen is one of Europe's most prolific strikers
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Osimhen is one of Europe's most prolific strikersCredit: Getty

Osimhen netted a further five in the Champions League and during the summer, he was the subject of heavy transfer speculation.

Clubs including Chelsea and Manchester United were keen to sign him, with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal making a £120.3million offer.

He rejected the monumental offer in favour of staying at Napoli but his fellow countryman Mikel has told him where to play next season.

When interviewing Osimhen on his podcast, the former Chelsea star revealed how he reacted to the Saudi Arabia links: "I just thought, 'I just hope he stays at Napoli.'

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"Or maybe next season, I know you're going to come to Chelsea. I'm telling you, I'm going to be the agent to broker that deal! You are 100 per cent going to Chelsea next season.

"I'm going to make sure that deal happens because we are crying out for someone like you. Since the big man left the club, you know Didier Drogba, my teammate, we haven't had anybody with that figure, that stature, that personality.

"Someone who can score goals in big games and somebody we can depend on scoring goals, and I just feel like you are that person, you will fit right in at what we need to achieve at the club.

"We're crying out for someone who will get us goals and I think that's what you will give us so.... Saudi can wait. Give us two or three years at Chelsea or four years and then maybe Saudi can happen.

Mikel would love to see Osimhen in a Chelsea shirt next season
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Mikel would love to see Osimhen in a Chelsea shirt next seasonCredit: The Obi One Podcast YouTube
The former Blue hints the club are still waiting for their Drogba replacement
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The former Blue hints the club are still waiting for their Drogba replacementCredit: Getty

"But yeah, Chelsea next season, I hope you come to the club, it's amazing. Obviously to live in London, we don't have the best weather but everything else is amazing, trust me. The club, the people at the club, the training ground, everything is absolutely amazing."

Mikel made 372 appearances for Chelsea and had the pleasure of playing alongside Drogba, their Champions League final hero in 2012, on 189 of those occasions.

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The Blues have struggled for reliable strikers since he left although Diego Costa was key in two Premier League title wins, with Nicolas Jackson their latest arrival in that role.

He scored his seventh goal for the club in their dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester City on Sunday but Chelsea could still be set to make a move for Osimhen next summer.

At the end of the season, he will have just one year remaining on his deal at Napoli so the Blues could therefore make an offer that would be substantially less than what Al Hilal proposed in July.

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