Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Obi set for new Chelsea contract but he's still nowhere near the real deal
John Mikel Obi hopes to sign a new contract with Chelsea in the summer but has provided precious little evidence he will fulfil his potential. The 22-year-old is heading towards the final season of his four-year deal and the club will no doubt give him a new one. Work to do: Obi (right) has failed to impress on a regular basis More from Hatchet Man. HATCHET MAN: Stoke and Wolves can do better than Everton misfit Van der Meyde01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Rio's rock solid but Manchester United need more like him at the back01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Big boys Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool are wrong to believe in Santa01/05/09 HATCHET MAN: Forget heroic defending - limited Chelsea were just running scared against Barcelona30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Does Moyes need a washed-up Liverpool legend/Newcastle failure at Goodison Park? He must be g-Owen mad.30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Great for police overtime but a final nail in the SPL's coffin - the Premier League must hold firm in snubbing Rangers and Celtic30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: Not even English, too old and discarded by Spain - why Almunia should never be allowed to wear the Three Lions30/04/09 HATCHET MAN: We only really have two games to save ourselves - Toon striker Owen surrenders six points29/04/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE After spending £16 million getting Obi to Stamford Bridge, they don't have a lot of choice, but there must be misgivings now about the lengths they went to and the amount of money they splashed out signing him. Obi showed great promise early on at Chelsea but in deputising for Michael Essien this season he has looked ponderous and out of his depth in the biggest games. He has given the ball away at critical times in dangerous positions and can no longer be considered a reliable holding midfielder. He doesn't score goals either - two in 125 appearances - and there are indications the lifestyle problems Jose Mourinho voiced concern about have returned. He was recently found guilty of drink driving after being stopped at 5am. Chelsea have a lot of money invested in Obi and are about to commit themselves to more, but if Guus Hiddink has a fully fit squad he wouldn't make the team. He has a lot to do to repay the club's faith in him and needs to step things up soon before the whiff of disappointment in him becomes the stench of a flop.