Chelsea To Raid Marseille For Essien Replacement

Chelsea and Everton are both battling for the signature of Marseille midfielder Lucho Gonzalez. The 30-year-old looks likely to leave the French club this summer and top clubs from around Europe are interested in signing him.

TalkSport Radio reports that the Argentine international has been linked to La Liga side Malaga but that a move to the Premier League is more likely.

Chelsea want a replacement for Michael Essien who is out for at least six months due to a knee injury. However Everton’s David Moyes is also interested in Gonzalez.

Gonzalez’s agent Federico Simonian recently said: “I think the player will play in England or Italy. It is not true that Malaga have made a bid. In fact their offer was very low and almost disrespectful.”

Marseile payed Porto €18 million for the midfielder in 2009 and they have a similar valuation in mind for any sale this summer.

Gonzalez has played 43 games for Argentina but was not part of this year’s Copa America squad. He has played 68 games for Marseille and helped them to win the League and Cup double in 2010 and the French
Cup again in 2011.