FIFA are investigating claims that Manchester United and Chelsea target John Obi Mikel received death threats.

The Nigeria international is at the centre of a contract dispute between the two Premiership clubs, with United claiming to have signed the player and Chelsea insisting he wants to join them.

United announced the signing of Mikel (18) who is currently playing in the African Nations Cup, from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo last April but the player later said he had been forced into the agreement.

It was alleged that he had received death threats after United announced the deal and the player appeared to go missing.

He has since claimed he only wishes to join to join Chelsea and there have been claims that his contract with Lyn, which allowed the United, was forged.

United insist they have rights to the player and have counter-claimed that he has been forced into saying he wants to join Chelsea.

According to today’s BBC Radio 5 report, FIFA will now decide what happens to Mikel. It also suggests United and Lyn could push for a transfer ban to be imposed on Chelsea.

Mikel admits in the radio programme he would like to join Chelsea and not United.  He said: "I think Chelsea is going to be the best place for me."

Asked if he was finding the publicity surrounding the contract dispute between the two Premiership clubs stressful, he said: "It is difficult to be away from my family [at the African Nations Cup], but I just have to be strong and not lose my focus."

PA