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French champions have rejected an impressive €25 million offer from London for the sale of Ghana national team's 22-year-old midfielder Michael Essien.
"We feel pressure from Chelsea, the only club interested in Michael," Lyon's president told the club's website on Monday. "We will do everything to keep M.Essien in the club. He himself has stated that he wants to stay here, and we hope for his huge contribution in the upcoming season."
"We have already rejected the €25 million offer," Lyon's president stated.
Lyon is currently looking for a high-level striker. The main candidate is Liverpool's forward Milan Baros. Lyon's president acknowledged that the club knows about M.Baros's desire to stay in Liverpool, but the French have not lost hope yet.
Lyon, who became French champions for the fourth consecutive season last year, has so far strengthened only with one player: French national team's midfielder Benoit Pedretti, who arrived from Marseille.
