Lyon: Essien deal dead

Lyon claim that Chelsea's attempts to sign Michael Essien have all but collapsed.

The Blues have been pursuing the Ghanaian international all summer but have thus far refused to meet the French champions' demands with l'OL holding out for £32 million and a player in exchange.

Despite Roman Abramovich's pockets providing a seemingly bottomless transfer pit, The Blues have steadfastly refused to meet that price and Lyon themselves now believe a deal is unlikely to materialise.

Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas insists he will not be meeting Abramovich again, while director Bernard Lacombe accused the West Londoners of threatening football's entire transfer system with their 'bully-boy' tactics.

"For the moment there is no meeting (with Abramovich), the Chelsea (owner)," Aulas claimed.

"Events do not allow us to meet and things are dead."

Lacombe reiterated Aulas' view, but went on to warn that even Europe's biggest clubs could have their heads turned by Chelsea's financial muscle and its potential rewards - as has seemingly been the case with Essien himself.

"Things are on the point of death," Lacombe said of the Essien deal.

"The president [Aulas] will not meet Mr Abramovich again.

"But we must stop talking about Michael Essien, he has got a three-year contract.

"He has got to recognise he is still a Lyon player for a few more days or months.

"This boy used to be the sun in the dressing room every morning. He always has a kind word.

"Suddenly he has become closed and you can see he is unhappy. The players are annoyed to see him like that.

"They [Chelsea] exert pressure not only on Lyon, they are killing the football transfer market.

"Barcelona, Real Madrid - they are all going to be tempted sooner or later, like with Michael today."

Meanwhile, Arsenal have moved to rubbish claims by Aulas that they have joined the race to land Essien given the current impasse between Lyon and Chelsea.

Arsene Wenger had been tipped to launch a sensational raid to snare him from their London rivals, but insists he has no such plans.

"You can be reassured that we are not going to bid for Essien," Wenger declared.