Lyon 'no' to Chelsea Essien bid

Lyon claimed today that they have turned down a bid from Chelsea for Michael Essien.

Jose Mourinho's title winners have targeted the midfielder for a possible £14million swoop but Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said a transfer move had been rejected.

Aulas said today: "Chelsea came up with an offer and left with nothing. We have the best midfield players in Europe with Mahamadou Diarra, Michael Essien and Juninho.

"Only one player will go and that's Sidney Govou. He said he wanted to leave. After what he has done for the club, he has the right to go."

Chelsea are interested in the player but are not believed to have made a formal offer.

Coach Paul Le Guen quit the French champions on Monday, increasing speculation that the 22-year-old Ghana star would also depart, but his agent Fabian Piveteau said: "We know Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have an interest in Michael but Lyon want him to sign a new contract and we are talking about that now.

"There is no hurry as I have a gentlemen's agreement with the Lyon chairman that will allow Michael to leave in one year no matter what."

Essien, who joined Lyon from Bastia in June 2003 for £5.3m, has three years remaining on his five-year contract. He scored three times in the run that took Lyon to the quarter-finals of the European Cup before they were knocked out by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.