John Obi Mikel is on the brink of a shock move to Championship side Middlesbrough after spending the last two days on Teesside talking to manager Tony Pulis.
Mikel, who left Chelsea to sign a lucrative deal with Chinese club Tianjin Teda two years ago, is keen on the move to a side that is chasing promotion back to the Premier League and Boro are trying to find room for him on their wage bill.
The 31-year-old has also spoken to clubs in France and Germany over the weekend but returned to Middlesbrough on Monday and appears to favour playing in England again. Should the player pass a medical, the deal should be confirmed in the next 24 hours.
The Nigerian enjoyed a hugely successful career at Stamford Bridge, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, but there has been no interest from top-flight clubs this month following his return from China, which has surprisingly left Boro in pole position.
Mikel’s arrival is an ambitious move by the Teessiders, but it will come at a cost as owner Steve Gibson made it clear there was no room to increase the wage bill this month unless players were moved on.
The club’s highest earner, Danish striker Marlon Brathwaite has gone out on loan to Leganes, but he will return in the summer and there is not much room for manoeuvre in the budget unless Gibson agrees Mikel is such an important signing to make that he is willing to make an exception.
Pulis is currently refusing to select former England international Stewart Downing as he will activate a clause in his contract that entitles him to a wage increase if he plays one more game for the club.
Downing has been told he can either find another club willing to offer better terms on his £30,000-a-week deal or sign a new contract with them and remove the clause.
Boro would also listen to offers for Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton or Ashley Fletcher this month, in the hope that they can revive their interest in winger Yannick Bolasie after he returned to Everton early from a loan move to Aston Villa.
