Lyon midfielder Michael Essien is convinced he will secure a dream move to Chelsea this summer - even though Les Gones are refusing to budge from an asking price of ?32million.

The 22-year-old has been at the centre of fierce negotiations between the four-time defending French champions and the Blues in recent weeks.

"I think the transfer will be made," Essien said in L'Equipe. "I am convinced that I will go to Chelsea but in the meantime I am experiencing difficult times. I can't wait until everything is over."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is adamant that only a fee similar to what Chelsea were willing to pay for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard will be enough for the transfer to go ahead and insists time is running out for the English side.

An initial ?17.4m bid for Essien was turned down, prompting the Blues to increase their offer to ?18.7m, which was again rejected by Aulas during his face-to-face meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon last week.

But Essien, currently in Asia with the rest of the Lyon team for the Peace Cup, remains in no doubt that he will be lining up in the Premiership in time for the big kick-off early next month.

"I also spoke with Didier Drogba and he wants me to come."

Aulas has instructed Chelsea to either put up or shut up, slapping a deadline of Thursday for the transfer to be completed.

"They must be fast now, I will be back in France on Thursday, it's been going on for too long," he said. "If Chelsea want Michael, it's now or never. The price is fixed. It's ?32m or nothing."