Essien to cost ?25m?

Leading French journalist Xavier Rivoire has told clubcall that Chelsea will need to increase their bid for Lyon midfielder Michael Essien to ?25 million if they want to land the player.

It has been widely reported that the Blues have had an offer of ?13 million knocked back this week for the Ghana ace.

And Rivoire told clubcall: "The club who will want to buy Essien will have to put quite a lot of money on the table, possibly ?25 million. There will be no discussion before this price is reached.

"He is not officially for sale. The Lyon chairman doesn't want to sell and Essien is ready to sign a new contract and stay there.

"If a club was to put ?25 million or more on the table then things might change."