Arsenal are being linked with loan bids for Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and striker Daniel Sturridge.
The Ghana international Michael Essien has fallen down the starting order under Roberto di Matteo and hasn’t featured in any of Chelsea’s games so far this season. He was heavily linked with interest from Turkish side Fenerbahce earlier this week while reports last night claimed Everton boss David Moyes had also made a move for the 29-year-old but that move had been rejected by Chelsea.
Whether Chelsea will agree to a loan deal to one of their rivals at the top end of the Premier League remains to be seen although Chelsea did agree to the season-long loan of Yossi Benayoun to Arsenal at the end of the summer 2011 transfer window when he was considered surplus to requirements.
Essien moved to Chelsea from French side Lyon in 2005 in a deal worth £24.5million but has been restricted by injuries to less than 250 games in his seven years with the club. He missed much of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury which kept him out of action until January.
Arsenal have also enquired about a loan deal for Essien’s Chelsea team-mate Daniel Sturridge. The Blues are expected to make a late bid for Bayer Leverkusen’s Andre Schurrle and could decide to send Sturridge out on loan if that bid is successful.
Liverpool and Spurs are both keen on Sturridge but there has also been an enquiry from Arsenal. Chelsea were reported this week to have put a £25million price tag on Sturridge.
