Transfers of Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Source: Graphic Online
AC Milan and Ghana midfielder Michael Essien could be heading for an unnamed club in the United States after reportedly turning down contract offers to return to the English premiership.
The midfield strong man has rejected offers from premier league sides Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion because he does not want to play against his former club Chelsea, according to the 32-year-old player’s agent.
“Essien doesn’t want to play in the Premier League for a different side to his old club Chelsea. We have turned down offers from both West Brom and QPR,” the player’s agent, Fabien Piveteau, told The Mirror.
The former Blues talisman is out of contract at the end of the season and is unlikely to sign an extension with the Rossoneri.
According to Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Ghanaian, who earns €3 million a year at the San Siro club had offers from England, but is pondering a move outside Europe and seek new pastures in America. The report also claims that Essien could seek to leave Milan this month so he can be eligible for the start of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season in the US.
Essien spent nine years at Stamford and was a stalwart of Jose Mourinho’s greatest Chelsea side, winning a host of trophies, including the Champions League.
He could follow in the footsteps of his former Stamford Bridge teammate Frank Lampard who last year joined MLB side, New York City, but was immediately loaned to premiership champions, Manchester City.