Chelsea's second longest serving player has suggested in a recent interview with goal.com that he could leave the former European Champions if he is not offered a new contract at the expiration of his current deal which runs out next summer.

Mikel who has been with the blues since 2005 has seen no minutes of competitive football since guiding Nigeria to the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and missed the final stages of Chelsea's pre-season preparations as a result.

His normal spot in the middle of the park has been usurped by N'golo Kante and while recent reports had suggested the veteran would be giving an advanced role,his long spell with the London outfit could be ebbing away.

"I have one year left".
"When you have a year left, in January, you are allowed to talk to other clubs and sign a pre-contract or have an agreement so, yes, I will talk to other clubs because you never know what is going to happen."
"I’ve been here for a long, long time. I’ve spent 11 years of my life in this football club, it is my home.
"This season is the last at the club if my contract ends. I am quite relaxed about it, the future looks good."

When queried on whether he will take to the negotiation table with the blues,he said
"I am always open to a new conversation, a negotiation [with Chelsea]," he added. "But if there’s none, the future still looks bright. One day you have to move on. I think my memories here, my achievements here, are something that no one will ever take away from me.

Mikel could however return to the starting XI for tonight's EFL Cup clash against Leicester City with Conte expected to ring changes to the squad having lost narrowly to Liverpool last time out.