Talk of new Chelsea manager selling midfielder dismissed
Published:Michael Essien’s agent has denied rumours that recently appointed Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas has plans to get rid of his client this summer, instead insisting that he will be an integral part of the Portuguese tactician’s plans.
The Ghanaian midfielder had one of his least effective seasons of an on-the-whole highly successful six-year stint in west London as the Blues failed to retain either the Premier League or FA Cup and fell short again in the Champions League.
That prompted suggestions that as Essien is one of the club’s most saleable assets at the age of 28, his position would be one of the areas that Villas Boas would look to strengthen in, but Fabien Piveteau has moved to silence that speculation.
He said: “There’s absolutely no chance of Essien leaving Chelsea. It is not true that the club’s new coach Villas Boas wants to release Michael. In fact, he knows Essien very well having worked at the club before and he knows what Michael can do for the club.
“Michael is also focused on staying at the club because he has a very good relationship with the team’s supporters, the new manager and the club owner. He is not leaving.”
There remains a lack of certainty over how Villas Boas will attempt to improve the squad this ahead of a campaign in which he intends to challenge for every trophy at Chelsea’s disposal, though the general consensus is that changes are expected.
The Blues are 5/2 to regain the Premier League in the former Porto boss’ first season in the dugout, while odds of 7/1 are available on him inspiring the Champions League triumph that proved elusive in his time there as one of Jose Mourinho’s assistants.
