Crystal Palace join the growing list of clubs looking to sign Mikel this January transfer window

ENGLISH Premier league side Crystal palace have joined the race to sign Super Eagles skipper Mikel Obi before the end of the January transfer window as part of a drive to strengthen their squad and avoid relegation.

Palace are currently sitting in 14th place in the 20-team English Premier league table with just 22 points from a similar number of games, leaving the club only four points away from the relegation spots. Over the weekend, Palace lost 1-2 at home to fellow Greater London side Watford, despite taking an early lead, prompting manager Roy Hodgson to seek reinforcements.

So far this season, Crystal Palace have lost six of their 11 home Premier League matches and Mr Hodgson believes that more solidity is required in midfield. With Mikel now a free agent having terminated his contract with Chinese League side Tianjin Teda where he has plied his trade for the last two years, several European teams are keen to sign him.

Mikel, 31, is Nigeria's most well decorated and well recognised player, having spent 10 and a half years at Chelsea where he won the Uefa Champions League and Premiership title among other laurels. Already, Turkish giants Fernebahce are said to have opened talks with Mikel's agent and several Premier League aides are said to be interested too.

About a year ago, Everton were keen on signing Mikel but it is not yet clear if the club is still eager on taking him to Merseyside. Mikel has said he would rather play in England than anywhere else because his family resides there and he wants to be close to them.

Palace are thought to also be looking to sign Victor Moses on loan for the rest of the season from Chelsea, where he has been frozen out. Moses, who is a former Palace academy star, signed for Chelsea where he played alongside Mikel, with both of them striking up a partnership at both club and national team level.