Mikel gives Conte headache

The arrival of N’Golo Kante from Leicester City has placed further doubt over Mikel’s role at the club, but Conte is pleased by the midfield depth at his disposal . Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has said Nigerian international, John Obi Mikel, and other midfielders remain very important for the club. Mikel, 29, has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, with Turkish giants, Besiktas, thought to be interested in the Nigerian. The arrival of N’Golo Kante from Leicester City has placed further doubt over Mikel’s role at the club, but Conte is pleased by the midfield depth at his disposal. “Mikel is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this,” Conte told reporters. “N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc [Fabregas], Oscar, [Nathaniel] Chalobah and [John Obi] Mikel, who is in the Olympics, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem.” While Mikel is away in the United States of America preparing for the Olympics, Chelsea will take on Premier League rivals, Liverpool, in a pre-season match at the Rose Bowl in California on Thursday.