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John Obi Mikel is expected to remain at Chelsea following the club's decision to send Oriol Romeu on loan to Stuttgart.
Mikel was one of a number of players Chelsea were prepared to sell this summer but the Nigeria international has failed to generate much interest.
Inter Milan made an enquiry at the end of the season but didn’t register a bid, while there were reports in Italy that the Blues were offering him to clubs for a mere £5million.
Mikel arrived at Stamford Bridge from Lyn Oslo for £12m, via Manchester United, in 2006 and following the departure of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, now boasts the fourth-most appearances in the squad with 313 games for Chelsea.
After handing Romeu a new three-year contract last month, the Spaniard was expected to compete with Mikel for a midfield berth in front of the back four along with Nemanja Matic, Marco van Ginkel, Ramires and summer signing Cesc Fabregas.
Mikel’s future looked further in doubt after manager Jose Mourinho admitted he needed to get rid of one foreign player to meet the Champions League and Premier League quotas but it is Romeu and not the Nigerian who has made way after joining Stuttgart on a season-long loan.
Chelsea will have to get rid of another member of their foreign contingent if they step up their pursuit in Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba or Paris St Germain striker Edinson Cavani, but the 27-year-old Mikel appears to be staying for now.
He returned to pre-season training last week and played his first friendly in the 3-0 defeat to Werder Bremen on Sunday.
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Mikel has already set his sights on claiming more silverware next term after Chelsea missed out last season.
He said: “Hopefully it will be a very successful one for the team. Everyone wants to achieve something. We want to win trophies.
“We didn’t do that last season but this time we are all hoping we can have a good one and win some trophies.”
