Chelsea are prepared to be paitient in their pursuit of Michael Essien, but they remain confident of signing the Lyon midfielder.
Chelsea are set to re-open talks with Lyon who are holding out for more than £30m for the 22-year-old Ghana midfielder.
“Negotiations should begin again this week,” confirmed Stamford Bridge chief executive Peter Kenyon.
“Ideally we wanted to have him on this trip but as long as Essien is here by 31 August we will be happy.”
Chelsea have already seen bids of £17m and £18m turned down by Lyon, but Essien has appealed to Blues ownder Roman Abramovich to up his offer.
“I have the feeling Lyon will not sell for anything less than £35m,” he told the News of the World.
“My last hope is Abramovich. It is he who has to make the decision. I hope he will meet their demands.
“I cannot see myself staying at Lyon – no way.
“I don’t even want to think about it. It is now in the hands of Abramovich.”
