Essien Agrees New Five-Year Chelsea Deal

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has signed a new five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Ghana international, currently in China on the club's pre-season tour, is therefore contracted to the club until 2013.

Essien's commitment follows yesterday's confirmation that goalkeeper Petr Cech had signed a new five-year deal.

Essien, who signed from Lyon for around £24million in 2005, said: 'I am really pleased to have extended my contract with Chelsea.

'I am very happy here. We have a great team and fantastic fans who have always made me welcome.

'With the addition of the new manager (Luiz Felipe Scolari), I am feeling very positive about the season ahead.'

Scolari, who took over from Avram Grant recently, was pleased to tie Essien down amid continued speculation about the future of fellow midfielder Frank Lampard.

'I have not been here long but it is clear to me that Michael Essien is one of the best midfield players in the world,' he said.

'I have always admired him and it is good news for me and for Chelsea that he signs for so long.'

Left-back Wayne Bridge also signed a new deal earlier this week.

This article was taken from: Soccernet.espn.go.com

AC Milan Deny Receiving Bids For Kaka

AC Milan have denied receiving a 150million euros offer from Chelsea or any other club for Kaka.

The Brazilian playmaker is rumoured to be a top target of the London outfit but the Rossoneri are adamant they will not sell their star player.

'The offers for Kaka are only in the newspapers and they make up stories,' club vice-president Adriano Galliani told the club's official website.

'Today there are talks of a 150million euros offer and tomorrow it will be 200.

'Nothing is true, neither from Chelsea nor from any other club have we received that kind of offer.'

Galliani admitted holding talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich earlier this summer and inquiring about the possibility to bring Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko back to the San Siro this summer.

'It is true that I was on Abramovich's boat,' said Galliani. 'It's true that he has had me as his guest and that I asked him for Shevchenko and he asked me for Kaka.

'But it finished 0-0 as we told him no for Ricky (Kaka) and they said no for Andriy.

'In any case there was no mention of numbers. Hence, I don't know where the figures read in the newspapers come from.

'We have a great relationship with Chelsea from a human level, but that doesn't mean they will say yes for Sheva and we will say yes for Kaka. I believe Kaka is happy at Milan.'

Galliani's denials come on the back of a similar response from Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, who yesterday said the club had made no offer for Kaka, and were instead focusing on Real Madrid's Robinho.

This article was taken from: Soccernet.espn.go.com

Chelsea Deny Making Bid For Barca's Eto'o

Chelsea have denied making a bid for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o despite claims from the Cameroon international he has received offers from the Blues, Tottenham and Inter Milan.

The 27-year-old, who is currently in Scotland with Barcelona, told Corriere dello Sport yesterday he has received a 'few important offers. Which ones? Chelsea, Tottenham and Inter.'

But Chelsea sources, who are currently with the club in China as part of the Blues' pre-season tour, denied making an offer for Eto'o.

A club spokesman said: 'We deny making a bid or any offer for Eto'o.'

Eto'o's agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, also refused to rule out the possibility of the former Real Mallorca striker remaining at the Nou Camp despite speculation over his future.

After arriving in southern China yesterday ahead of tomorrow's pre-season opener against Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, chief executive Peter Kenyon also ruled out a move for AC Milan playmaker Kaka, while revealing discussions with Real Madrid over fellow Brazilian Robinho were ongoing.

Portugal duo Deco and Jose Boswinga have already arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer, while veteran French midfielder Claude Makelele and Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz departed for Paris St Germain and VfB Stuttgart respectively yesterday.

This article was taken from: Soccernet.espn.go.com