Chelsea: John Obi Mikel offered new contract to stay at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have offered John Obi Mikel the opportunity to extend his contract at the club, but the midfielder is undecided over his future. Mikel, 28, is the club's second-longest-serving player behind captain John Terry and is currently in his 10<sup>th season at Stamford Bridge.

While he has sometimes been regarded as a peripheral member of the squad, the Nigeria international has become a first-team regular once again under Guus Hiddink. With his current contract set to expire at the end of next season, the Blues have approached the player over the possibility of a new deal.

But according to his agent, Mikel will hold off until the end of the season, with clubs in China eager to tempt him away from the Premier League. His representative told allnigeriasoccer.com: "Chelsea have approached him for an extension of his contract but he said after the season he will decide. He has so many teams interested in him, almost three clubs in China want him."

Mikel has been a near ever-present in the Chelsea first-team since the turn of the year, with Hiddink describing him as the "ideal player" needed to address the club's midfield woes shortly after his arrival back at the club.

"If the team is not willing to defend well or have the right balance then you concede a lot of goals. I thought John Obi can be one of the key figures in getting the balance back. On top of that the talented players can then explore their qualities, Hiddink said of Mikel, ESPN report.

"He can recover the radar. He knows the game very well. He knows where the strength of the opponent is and he knows exactly how to cope with that. He has a very good eye, a very good nose, and a very good sense of where to recover."