Inter director Ausilio: Nigerian international is too expensive

Sporting director of Italian giant Inter Milan, Piero Ausilio has poured cold water on rumours linking Chelsea and Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel with a move to the San Siro outfit.

Ausilio said Obi's earning at Chelsea is far too high for Inter to contemplate a transfer. "People who earn 5 or 6 Million Euros a year is over the budget for us."

John Obi Mikel has lost his place in the Chelsea squad to Serbian Nemanja Matic and has only made one start in the league for Chelsea since January.

Earlier this week they were reports claiming he was courting interest from Inter Milan but unless he agrees on a pay cut as he currently earns 6.5 million euros which is above what Inter Milan can pay.

On December 5th last year the 25-year-old midfielder committed his future to the European champions until 2017 - something that would see him complete 11 years at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel joined Chelsea in the summer of 2006 after controversially pulling out of a move to Manchester United.