Roy Hodgson reportedly wanted to bring former Chelsea favourite Mikel back to the Premier League but he’s heading to the Championship with Boro instead.
Middlesbrough-bound John Obi Mikel turned down a move to Crystal Palace because he was not guaranteed regular minutes at Selhurst Park, according to The Gazette.
Two years after leaving Chelsea for Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin TEDA, the veteran midfielder is set for a shock return to English shores having agreed personal terms ahead of a short-term move to Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.
If reports are to be believed, Crystal Palace also expressed an interest though Mikel was concerned that he would not be a key player under Roy Hodgson.
This is yet another blow for the Eagles, who have missed out on a whole host of transfer targets already this month. Mikel, who won three Premier League titles in a decade at Stamford Bridge, would have added steel and intelligence in midfield.
Crystal Palace are not the only side to have been left disappointed, however.
The Sun (23 January, page 51) reported that Boro’s second tier rivals Aston Villa and Derby County were also snubbed by the 31-year-old Nigeria international, who decided against a reunion with John Terry or Frank Lampard.
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