Football
Reuters 19y

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Lyon's Essien says he wants to join Chelsea

(Updates with Essien still in Lyon, team leaving on Wednesday)

PARIS, July 12 - Ghana midfielder Michael Essien
said on Tuesday he wanted to leave French champions Olympique
Lyon for Chelsea.

"I want to leave," Essien was quoted as saying by French
sports daily L'Equipe. "I want to play in England at Chelsea."

Reports in the British media said Essien would be in London
on Tuesday for a medical but reporters spotted him in Lyon.
"He is here and we will do everything we can to keep him,"
said a club official.

Club president Jean-Michel Aulas has turned down offers from
the wealthy English champions and has repeatedly said that
Essien was not for sale.

Lyon were due to leave for South Korea on Wednesday to play
in the Peace Cup tournament. Essien told L'Equipe he would not
go.

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