Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel was not initially a transfer target for Tianjin TEDA in the January transfer window, it has come to light. <br /><br />Netease Sports says the former Chelsea midfielder was not one of the names submitted to manager Jaime Pacheco ahead of the opening of the transfer window, but the higher-ups at Tianjin TEDA overruled the decision of their scouting team.<br /><br />Tianjin TEDA had embarked on a scouting mission to the Netherlands and Portugal, where they ran the rule over Porto and Sporting Lisbon stars.<br /><br />The Super League club became interested in Mikel after discovering that his contract will expire in June and Chelsea were prepared to allow him leave as a free agent this month. <br /><br />Mikel, 29, has committed his future to Tianjin TEDA for the next three seasons.<br /><br />Ifeanyi Emmanuel <br /><br />Photo Credit : chelseafc.com<br />