Toffees bid for Essien turned down

The 20-year-old, who is rated as one of the best young midfielders in Le Championnat, has been watched closely by Toffees boss David Moyes in recent months.

Moyes has followed up his interest in Essien by lodging a bid of around £3 million plus outcast Alex Nyarko.

Bastia, however, are not prepared to let their prized asset leave on the cheap, and Everton will have to increase their initial offer if they want to land one of their top summer targets.

The player's agent Fabien Piveteau has explained the situation from his client's point of view.

"Everton are the only club to have made a real offer," Piveteau revealed to planetfootball.com.

"I understand that they proposed about £3 million and Nyarko, but Bastia did not agree to this.

"There are no more offers, there is serious interest from Lyon and Paris [Saint Germain].

"I think Lyon will make an offer next week and so we will see what happens.

"Liverpool have also seen Mickael and have talked about him, but they were really keeping an eye on their own player [Gregory] Vignal.

"Marseille's interest is not certain either, I am not sure what there current situation is."

Piveteau also explained that playing in The Premiership was an ambition for Essien.

"He wants to play in England, that is for sure," he continued.

"He is now back in Ghana and will be playing for the national side in their African Cup games, but he knows what is going on.

"He knows about Everton and has seen how well they have done in The Premiership and he would be happy going there.

"The Liverpool situation is different, as he knows what players they have, and so we will have to see."