Chelsea's Mikel has medical with Tianjin TEDA

Chelsea's John Obi Mikel is close to a free transfer to Tianjin TEDA, who have offered him £140,000-per-week to see off competition from Marseille and Valencia, with the deal expected to be formally announced early next week. 

The 29-year-old has only six months left on his deal and has been allowed to talk to clubs since December, with Chelsea willing to let their second-longest-serving player, after John Terry, go for free. 

Tianjin TEDA were one of two Chinese Super League clubs to compete for Mikel's signature and he will move to football's newest superpower just weeks after Oscar left Chelsea in a £52 million deal to join Shanghai SIPG. 

Mikel was reluctant to move to China as he looked for a move that was best for him and his family, but has been convinced after talks in London with the CSL side. 

Chelsea haven't fielded Mikel since his return from competing in the Olympics with Nigeria, where he won his country's only medal.

Despite that, and the midfielder's resurgence under Guus Hiddink, Mikel hasn't played for Chelsea since their 1-1 draw at Anfield back in May 2016.