Why don’t Chelsea buy someone better than John Obi Mikel? talkSPORT opinion

Can anyone sensibly explain why Roberto Di Matteo is preparing to offer John Obi Mikel a new five year contract?

Chelsea have started this year in cracking form, dropping two points in the Premier League after eight games, so it's difficult to pick holes in their side. Unless you look closely, that is.

John Obi Mikel, their Nigerian midfield enforcer, is preventing a world class defensive midfielder from making the Blues an even better prospect. He's the weak link in a team otherwise brimming with players of real quality.

Mikel had played the full 90 minutes in every Chelsea defeat this season; against Man City, Atletico Madrid and Shaktar Donetsk. He has started all eight of Chelsea's Premier League fixtures, missing just 38 minutes of action after being hauled off in the second half on three occasions.

And yet, there are half a dozen central midfielders with more successful passes in England and seven who have enjoyed more touches of the ball. One of those is Yaya Toure, who outshone Mikel in the Community Shield and has continued to embarrass him with some bullish displays for Man City this year.

Mikel should be sitting up and taking note, but he's too busy hiding in Chelsea's midfield.

This season, Toure has completed 599 passes - 151 more than Mikel. In total, Toure has bagged 14 goals in 70 Premier League appearances for Man City, whereas Mikel hasn't scored any in 168 for Chelsea. How much better would the Blues be with someone like Toure?

They are the reigning European Champions, happy to invest big money on young, world class players and yet, their first choice defensive midfielder doesn't even come close to world football's top ten in his position. Why is that?

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