FC Nordsjaelland midfielder Mario Dorgeles(Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal and Chelsea battle it out for 'next Mikel' as six Premier League clubs track midfielder

Mario Dorgeles is the next name to emerge on Arsenal and Chelsea's list of transfer targets as six Premier League clubs register interest in talented midfielder

17 Oct 2024, 18:07 by Kieran King · football.london

Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly both interested in signing FC Nordsjaelland and Ivory Coast midfielder Mario Dorgeles. The 20-year-old moved to the Danish top-flight outfit from Right to Dream - an academy system that has helped produce the likes of Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana and West Ham's Mohammed Kudus.

He joined Nordsjaelland in August 2022 and made his debut in a Danish Super League game against Aalborg BK. Dorgeles ended up playing 21 matches during his first season at the club. He enjoyed a more prominent role in his second campaign, featuring 31 times across all competitions.

This season, Dorgeles has started in 11 of their opening 12 matches and his performances have attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs. According to TBR football, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Brentford are monitoring the young midfielder.

It's added that those six clubs have watched Dorgeles at some point this season and are tracking his progress ahead of a potential move. Some of the scouts that have been looking at Dorgeles have described him as being 'similar in demeanour and play' to John Obi Mikel – who also played in Scandinavia before moving to England.

Mikel, a former Nigerian international, was a strong and powerful defensive midfielder who sat just in front of the back four. The 37-year-old, who won the Champions League and two Premier League titles during his time at Chelsea, often saved his best performances for the big occasions.

During his time at Chelsea, Mikel made 372 appearances across 11 seasons. He is recognised as one of the best African players to have played in the Premier League and his list of honours displays that. Mikel ended his career after playing for Kuwait SC in the Kuwait Premier League in 2021.

Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, Mikel the Obi One Podcast in August: "It was a massive relief. Obviously, it was going on for almost a year, I couldn’t play for any club because of the whole saga.

“But after that was settled, it was a massive relief for me, and I joined the club I really wanted to play for, which was Chelsea. I just couldn’t wait to be unveiled as a Chelsea player because it was taking such a long time to get settled.

"But after that was done, you know, I was happy to be here. Amazing career. I had won everything there was to win. And my memory here is absolutely fantastic. I would never, never trade it for anything."

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