Mikel set to leave Chelsea for Galatasaray after taking advice from Drogba

John Mikel Obi is set to move to Galatasaray and says he is confident that the Turkish side will agree a deal with Chelsea over a transfer fee.

The Nigerian midfielder asked former Blues striker Didier Drogba for advice about moving to the club.

Mikel says he has spent a long time at Chelsea and is looking forward to life in Istanbul.

'I'm very pleased with Galatasaray's offer,' Mikel told Sabah, a daily Turkish newspaper

'I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move.

'I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it's now time for me to leave.

'I'm still only 26 and it's great to receive an offer from a club (Galatasaray) playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.'

He continued: 'Talks have reached an advanced level between Chelsea and Galatasaray. Chelsea won't make the move difficult and regarding my salary there won't be a problem.

'All that is left is for the clubs to reach an agreement.'

Mikel was a player who split opinions among fans - some hailed him for his defensive aptitude and performances in big games while others chastised him for his lack of attacking nous.

Jose Mourinho signed him in 2006 after a protracted transfer saga which saw him on the brink of a move to Manchester United - it even progressed to the point he was pictured in their shirt at a press conference.

FIFA ordered he move back to his side Lyn Oslo while the matter was resolved - but instead of letting the world football governing body settle the dispute, Chelsea decided to deal directly with United and the Norwegian side.

They eventually settled on a £16million fee - £12m to United and £4m to Lyn.

Signed as an attacking midfielder but thrown into Chelsea's first-team at the age of 19 by Mourinho, Mikel has matured in a defensive role in the seven years since.

Arguably his greatest performance came in the 2012 Champions League final which saw Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena.

During his time at Chelsea he won the Premier League, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup, the Europa League and the Champions League.