The Blues boss has yet to speak with his midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of the season as he struggles to break into the first team under the Italian
Antonio Conte says that neither he nor Chelsea have yet opened talks with John Obi Mikel to extend his contract beyond next summer.
Mikel is Chelsea’s second-longest-serving player after John Terry but will be permitted to talk to other clubs from January if he is not offered a new deal.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria captain has still yet to make a matchday squad for Conte this season after missing the end of pre-season and the start of the full campaign to play in the Olympics.
“Now? Have I spoken to him now? No. No. No but, I repeat, now it’s important to be focused on the championship in this period,” Conte said. Naijabet.com
“We are in November. It’s important to be focused on the pitch. Then, we can focus other situations in time. It’s normal in every squad, there are players who are towards the end of their contract, and they and the club together take a decision on their futures.”
“Mikel is working very well now. In the past he’s sometimes had some injuries but now he’s working very hard and I’m pleased with his work-rate.”
Mikel has struggled to find a place this term after the arrival of N’Golo Kante arrived while Nemanja Matic, Oscar, Cesc Fabregas and Nathaniel Chalobah appear to also be ahead of him in Conte’s reckoning.
Mikel has made over 378 appearances for the Blues and won 10 major honours but he said back in September that he is open to leaving if Conte deems him as surplus to requirements.
“Yes, there are going to be rumours, yes,” Mikel admitted. “There are going to be conversations between clubs. When you have a year left, in January, you are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign a pre-contract or have an agreement so, yes, I will talk to other clubs because you never know what is going to happen.”
