Mikel looks to move to Premier league side after Boro fail to clinch play-off spot

SUPER Eagles skipper Mikel Obi is planning to leave English Championship side Middlesboro over the summer and seek another club after the team failed the make the play-offs that would have enabled it compete in the Premier League next season.

In January, Mikel joined Middlesboro on a short-term contract on the end of the season in the hope that the team would gain promotion to the English Premier League. Under Championship promotion rules, the first two teams get promoted to the Premier League, while the next four teams enter into the play-off that will produce one team to join them in the top flight.

On Sunday, Boro beat Rotherham 21- in their final game of the season but this was not enough to secure a play-off place as the team ended up seventh in the table. It means that if Mikel wants to see Premier League action next season, he will have to change clubs, which he will now be looking to do over the summer.

 On Sunday, Mikel scored his maiden goal for Boro but this was not enough to seal the play-off spot. He was handed the captain’s band in Middlesbrough last six league games of the season.

Mikel said: ”I don’t know, you can never say never but my contract ends, so if there’s a conversation, okay fine.  It’s a great club, it’s a big club, they will find the right players, get that dressing room back and make sure next season they are in the playoffs or automatic promotion.

”I don’t know, we’ll see what happens. I have conversation with my people and then we’ll see what comes out, options here and there. There’s a lot of options but you always have to pick the right one, the one that is going to suit you and suit the way you play and what you want to achieve.”