Tough days appear looming ahead of Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi at Middlesbrough of England, as the lower division club’s boss, Tony Pulis is worried that he could not sign more players in January.
Mikel arrived on a free transfer, after shredding his contract with Tianjin Teda of China, but footballlive.ng learnt the former Cheslea star is only one of two new arrivals at The Riversidde.
Joining the Eagles’ skipper is Rajiv van la Parra, but Pulis is lamenting that there was no activity on the final day of business and the tactician instead went to console himself at the pub.
Mikel would be alarmed to hear Pulis say Middlesbrough’s failure to bring in any players on deadline day has left them in a weakened state, which could spell torrid days ahead of Nigeria’s captain.
With Boro currently fifth and pushing for a return to the English Premier League, Pulis fears the disappointment of The Teessiders failing to add to Mikel and van la Parra could short-change him later in the campaign.
Mikel’s coach moaned publicly: “I think everybody around the club will be disappointed.
“There’s no hiding the fact there were players we wanted to bring in who we haven’t been able to bring in.
“There are areas I’ve wanted to strengthen for 13 or 14 months and we’ve not been able to do that.
“It’s been a window where in some respects it’s made the team weaker than stronger.
“Mikel and Van La Parra are good signings and they will help us at the back of the season.
“But at 4 o’clock I took all staff to the pub, we had a good chat. We knew at that stage nothing was going to happen.
“I’ve had three windows here and I’ve signed three permanent players. You’re hoping and praying to do more than that.”
