SOCCER: John Obi Mikel has pleaded with Manchester United to come to the negotiating table and give him a chance to complete his dream move to Chelsea.

The Nigerian's career is currently on hold while legal wranglings decide whether the contract he signed with Norwegian club Lyn Oslo last year is valid.

It has emerged that United have presented written documentation to Fifa accusing Chelsea of trying to sabotage their deal with Lyn and have called on the world governing body to ban the Londoners from making any further transfers.

In addition, there have also been claims of death threats being made to prevent Mikel pursuing a career with United, something the 18-year-old publicly states he no longer wishes to do anyway.

Having refused to return to Lyn, despite being ordered to by Fifa last year, Mikel is distraught that the row over his contract has erupted again while he is on African Cup of Nations duty with his country in Egypt.

But, on the day he made his first international start and helped Nigeria move into the last eight with a 2-1 win over Senegal, Mikel has called on the impasse over his future to be brought to an end, and for United to free him to continue his career.

"For the last nine months, Mikel has been the subject of legal proceedings, complaints before Fifa and media attention," said a statement released by solicitors Russells, who act on Mikel's behalf. "He is caught in the middle of a dispute between Manchester United and Chelsea. He is intent that the situation should change.

"Mikel is very concerned that Manchester United has failed to accept his decision as to where he wants to play or to enter into any sort of constructive dialogue to resolve this dispute.

"He has already put himself in the hands of the footballing authorities and calls upon them to intervene, to which end we are willing to meet whenever, wherever and with whoever in order to break this deadlock.

"Whatever agenda the respective football clubs involved in this dispute have, they must not be allowed to damage Mikel's career."

Chelsea were outraged at the allegations made by United in the leaked letter to Fifa, which was sent in May last year. The Stamford Bridge outfit continue to insist they have done nothing wrong, despite the vehement claims to the contrary of both United and Lyn.

However, Mikel has accused Lyn of dragging their heels over a legal process which has been passed back to the Norwegian FA by the courts in Norway, who do not feel they have the power to intervene in disputes of this kind.

"Mikel has initiated civil proceedings in Norway against Lyn Oslo," continued the statement. "At the centre of that case is Mikel's claim that his playing contract with Lyn is a forgery."