Chelsea given Essien deadline

Lyon have given Chelsea until Sunday to agree a fee for Michael Essien.

Jose Mourinho's Premiership champions are piling the pressure on their French counterparts to sell African midfielder Essien to them.

Lyon are continuing to resist, but Essien is now refusing to play as he does not want an injury scuppering his move to Stamford Bridge.

The two sides can still not agree on a fee, however, and Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has given them a warning that they could sell Essien to another club.

Aulas has met with Chelsea chief Peter Kenyon and they are closer to agreeing a fee, but he says that Chelsea have until Sunday to meet their valuation of the player.

"I could see Abramovich in the coming hours," said Aulas. "Chelsea have made an effort. We are closer, but not close enough.

"I lost a half-day of my holidays and it is not nice as I don't have a lot of holidays.

"I have presented them with an ultimatum. Chelsea have to make a decision before Sunday night.

"If the English officials are not reactive enough, Michael will stay at Lyon or go to another club that has proposed me much less money, but which was more reactive."

Lyon are not thought to have another offer on the table for Essien, and it could just be a desperate ploy to ensure the player remains in Gerard Houllier's squad.

Chelsea have said they will not be held to ransom, but may now decide to put a swift end to the situation by stumping up the cash to bring Essien to West London.

Meanwhile, Chelsea could offer a new deal to French defender William Gallas, who has been linked with a number of moves during the summer.

The likes of Liverpool, Newcastle and Barcelona have all courted the versatile stopper, but Mourinho wants to keep him in his squad.

Gallas is under contract until 2007, but The Blues will offer him an improved deal to extend his stay at the club.