Michael Essien is wanted by top Australian clubs

Australian top-flight sides are seeking to sign Ghana midfielder superstar Michael Essien in a desperate bid of signing high-profile guest players who could remain as marquees for next season, GHANAsoccernet.com can reveal.

The A-League is struggling to attract star players to boost stadium attendances as numbers attending league matches and television figures continues to drop.

The country's football governing body, Football Federation Australia, is keen for clubs to sign a known player to solve that problem but have strict regulations on who qualifies as a guest player.

Now the Australian clubs are considering using their short 14-game guest player window to sign top players with the view of giving further deals.

It is in this direction that former Chelsea superstar Essien has come under the radar of several clubs in the A-League as a marquee player and are seeking to meet the Ghanaian player's representatives.

Essien move to Australia remains less likely as he only recently made his season debut for Greek side Panathanaikos, playing their last two matches.

Injuries to the Ghanaian superstar at the start of the season tested the patience of Panathinaikos until he excelled in recent matches.

For any move for the Ghanaian to occur, Panathinaikos must first approve the move before the potential club can discuss personal terms with Essien and his agents.

Before returning from injury, Essien's move to seem more likely but his return from injury and the social media buzz created by his 40-metre pass with the outside of the boot, seems to have strengthened Panathinaikos' bid to hold onto him.

Essien is likely to see out his contract with the Greek giants, who sit second on the Super League table, 14 points behind arch-rivals, Olympiakos.