Nigerian reported to be heading for talks with Chelsea

Nigerian teenage midfielder John Obi Mikel, who last month signed a deal to join Manchester United, is reported to be heading for talks with Chelsea.

His Norwegian club Lyn Oslo, Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson and police in Norway have all been looking for the 18-year-old.

Ferguson had to abandon plans to visit Oslo yesterday to try to clear up a dispute over the transfer since Mikel could not be found.

The player, who has been named in Nigeria's training squad for this year's world youth championship, signed for United from Lyn in a four million pounds ($7.54 million) deal last month.

It is thought that Mikel, who failed to turn up for training with the first division club yesterday, could be travelling across London to visit newly-crowned English champions Chelsea.

"Mikel has been found in London. He was on his way to meet Chelsea..." Lyn manager Morgan Andersen was quoted as saying by Norwegian daily Dagbladet on its website.

Chelsea declined to comment but Lyn have denied suggestions the west London club had a preliminary deal to sign him.

A United spokesman, who confirmed Ferguson would not now be visiting Norway, said: "We are confident that we have followed the correct procedures. We have secured signed deals with the player and his club."

United had already sent their director of youth football Jim Ryan to Oslo on Wednesday to track down Mikel, who is supposed to join the Old Trafford club at the end of this year.

But yesterday's London Evening Standard quoted Mikel saying: "I don't want to play for Manchester United anymore. I'm not satisfied with the way Lyn have handled this case and I'm angry that they sent the police after me. I find this very degrading."