Chelsea Football Club?s attempts to sign Michael Essien are dead, according to Lyon.

The Blues have been chasing the Ghanaian midfielder all summer, yet they are refusing to meet the asking price set by the French champions of a staggering ?32million.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have so far offered a maximum price in the region of ?23million, and Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas now claims the proposed move is dead.

"For the moment there is no meeting (with Abramovich), the Chelsea (owner)," Aulas said. ?Events do not allow us to meet and things are dead."