Ferguson visits Oslo to urge Mikel transfer

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson visited Norway yesterday to press his claim for the transfer of Nigerian teenager John Obi Mikel from Norwegian soccer club Lyn Oslo.

"We have an agreement with Lyn, have followed John Obi Mikel for three years and still want him to come to Manchester United," daily Verdens Gang quoted Ferguson as saying on their website.

Midfielder Mikel, 18, signed for Man. United in April but the deal was thrown into doubt when Mikel said that he had been put under pressure to sign a deal newspapers said was worth about £4.0 million.

Mikel then travelled to London and said that he really wanted to play for Chelsea. Mikel turned up in Norway earlier this month and resumed playing for Lyn after several months' absence.