EPL: John Obi Mikel suggests how Chelsea can challenge for Premier League title

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has weighed in on Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes, suggesting that the Blues need to sign a natural goal scorer in the current transfer window if they are to mount a serious challenge for the league crown.

Chelsea started the season strongly and were initially considered one of the favorites for the title, alongside Liverpool and Arsenal. However, recent performances have seen the Blues struggle, with just three points from a possible 12 in their last four matches.

Mikel Obi, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge, believes Chelsea’s chances of challenging for the title are being hindered by their lack of a clinical striker. He pointed out that although the team is creating chances and playing well, they are not converting those opportunities into goals.

“We are creating chances, we are still playing well, we are still doing the right things but we’re not clinical enough, we’re not scoring goals,” Mikel Obi said during The Obi One Podcast.

“If Nicolas Jackson is not firing on all cylinders, you need someone else to step in and score goals in difficult games.”

He added that while Jackson has qualities as a link-up player, he is not scoring enough goals to lead Chelsea to top four or the Premier League title.

“He’s not a striker who’s going to get us to the top four or win us the Premier League title,” Mikel Obi continued. “If we had a top striker like Victor Osimhen or Viktor Gyokeres, I’m confident we’d still be competing for the Premier League.”

Chelsea are currently in 4th place, 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool. Their next two matches will see them face Wolves and Manchester City, two crucial fixtures in their bid to stay in the title race.