Essien may join Chelsea

Lyon:

Lyon's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien might be going to Chelsea after all, the French club's president said on Sunday night. "He (Essien) took the problem from the wrong end,'' Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told French television after his team's 1-1 draw against Marseille. "We have been put at a disadvantage from the start, but we are asking ourselves if it would not be a good solution to let him go,'' he added. Contrasting comments Aulas' comments contrasts with comments he made earlier this week. "England has the (2012) Olympics but Chelsea will not get Michael Essien,'' Aulas said on the club's website on Tuesday. "Michael Essien is and remains Lyonnais. The affair is finished.'' Essien, 22, has been at the center of protracted transfer negotiations between Lyon and Chelsea, the Premier League champion owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Lyon had reportedly been seeking $55.7 million for Essien. The last public offer made by Chelsea was $47.3 million, plus the 24-year old Portuguese player Thiago. Aulas hinted on Sunday night that the offer had been raised, but would not elaborate. (AP)