Tug-Of-War Over Essien

CURRENT PLB best Player of the Year, Kweku Essien is on the hot list of three Premiership clubs after an outstanding season that culminated in him winning the Onetouch player of the match on nine unprecedented occasions.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kessben FC and Accra Hearts of Oak are all in the chase for Essien's signature for the upcoming season.

Sources close to the player who has decided to play another season in the Onetouch Premiership before seeking greener pastures abroad, confirmed to 90 Minutes that the three clubs have been dangling various sums of money to the player as bait to rope him into their fold. According to news making rounds, leading the chase is new Premiership entrants Kessben FC who are reportedly willing to pay 700 million cedis for his services whilst Asante Kotoko have also bid around half the amount for Essien, who once featured for them.

But other sources claim that Accra Hearts of Oak, who are also seriously courting the player, believe they hold the trump card by using the CAF Champions League as bait to convince the player to don the rainbow colours to beef their playing body to Africa. It is believed Essien's manager Alhaji Bimbo, who is out of the country on a business trip, might also endorse the move for the player to play in the Champions League to raise his value and marketability.

Meanwhile Kweku Essien who ended the season on a high note after being named the Premiership's Best Player in Accra last Saturday during the Premier League Awards has remained tight lipped over where he will be pitching camp next season, preferring only to wait till Alhaji Bimbo arrives to strike a deal with any of the clubs who are hell bent on securing his signature.

The attacking midfielder who was rewarded for a series of outstanding performances in the Premier League that helped King Faisal avoid the drop has dedicated the award to his manager Alhaji Bimbo, Alhaji Karim Grunsah, President of his immediate past team, King Faisal and coach Abdul Karim Zito who is now flirting with Accra Hearts of Oak Essien beat off competition from Alhaji Sanni of Ashanti Gold and Liberty Professionals' Kwadwo Asamoah to win the VW Golf salon car prize for the Best Player of the season award. He joins former Asante Kotoko captain, Issah Ahmed as the second recipient in taking the Best Player of the Season award.