Chelsea set to reopen Essien talks

LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has revealed that negotiations with Lyon about the transfer of Michal Essien will begin again this week.

The Ghana midfielder is seen as a long-term replacement for Claude Makelele and Chelsea are determined to seal the deal this week.

Essien has called on Lyon to release him but the French champions have put a 45 million euro (32 million pound) price tag on his head.

Lyon have already turned down a 22 million pound (32 million euro) bid and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas believes Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich should stump up the 32 million pounds Chelsea were prepared to pay for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

The Blues had originally hoped to have signed Essien in time for their tour of the US but Kenyon remains confident a deal will be agreed before transfer deadline day.

"Ideally we wanted to have him on this trip but as long as Essien is here by August 31 we will be happy. Negotiations should begin again this week," he told Sky Sports from America.

However, Kenyon will have to move smartly. Lyon kick off the new season against newly-promoted Le Mans on Sunday and will want to have any Essien business concluded before then.