Cape Town - Watford striker Odion Ighalo has not hidden his desire for his national team captain to join him at his club side in the English Premier League.
Mikel has spent the past ten seasons in London with the Blues and, despite often being on the periphery of the starting XI under various managers, the Nigerian midfielder has managed to rack up 374 appearances for the Blues.
However, it seems as if the 29-year-old is ready to find regular first team football elsewhere after winning two league titles, four FA Cup's, two league cups, the Europa League and Champions League titles.
Ighalo feels any squad in the league would benefit from Mikel's ability on the ball and hopes he will be attracted to Vicarage Road in the upcoming transfer window.
"I will like it if Mikel join me at Watford," he said on Supersport programme, Fan Zone. "He is my captain at the national team. Apart from that he is a very good player, very talented.
"I have played with him and against him, he is a very good player. There is no team in the Premier League that will not want to have such a player.
"I am happy I have played with him so I will be very happy to have him in my team."