Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien who is currently on his summer break in Ghana is back in the transfer news and is now been used as a makeweight in Chelsea’s attempt to land Luka Modric according to the Daily Mail. Tottenham are adamant to release Modric but Blues chiefs are determined to get their man, and the latest reports from Stamford Bridge suggest Essien, who has failed to recapture the blistering form that made him such a fans' favourite in his early days, will be used as a makeweight in the deal - along with an eight-figure cash sum.

Modric has shocked Spurs by saying he wants to leave White Hart Lane for a 'bigger club' - and even singled out the Blues as his preferred destination this summer.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has already scoffed at Chelsea's opening bid of £22million for Modric, saying other players who have been sold for similar amounts this summer 'aren't fit to lace his boots'.

Despite demanding to leave, Modric said he wants to depart the north London club 'as friends'.

'I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club,' he told the Daily Mail.

'I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.’

‘Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.'

However, it seems Levy is playing hardball and has insisted the Croatian will be sorely disappointed this summer.

'I wish to make it absolutely clear, as I have said previously, that none of our key players will be sold this summer,' Levy said in a strongly-worded statement.

'We are building a team for the future to consistently play at the highest level and retaining quality players is crucial to that.

'In respect of Luka Modric, we are not prepared to sell, at any price, to Chelsea Football Club or any other club.

'We made our stance on this issue abundantly clear in writing to Chelsea. They chose to ignore it and then subsequently made the offer public.

'For the avoidance of any doubt, let me reiterate that we shall not enter into any negotiations whatsoever, with any club, regarding Luka.

'We now consider this matter closed.'