Mikel on brink of Blues move

Chelsea are expected to announce the signing of John Obi Mikel in the coming days after the gifted Nigerian arrived at Stamford Bridge to signal the end of a bitter struggle with Manchester United.

The 19-year-old's future has been the subject of a fractious row between the two English giants, but he is now on the brink of moving to London.

Mikel originally agreed to join Sir Alex Ferguson's side but later claimed he had been pressured into a deal and in fact was set on a move to Stamford Bridge.

After intervention from Fifa the two clubs are close to resolving the row, with Chelsea set to part with a hefty transfer fee to Norwegian outfit Lyn.

A large proportion of this outlay, reportedly in the region of £12 million, will then find its way into the Old Trafford coffers as a form of compensation for United.

The Nigerian international could now be unveiled as a Chelsea player within 24 hours, bringing a close to one of the most unsavoury transfer wrangles of recent times.