Kickoff (Cape Town)
21 July 2008
Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has agreed a new deal at English Premiership club Chelsea that will keep him at the club until 2013.
The club's new coach Felipe Scolari has been impressed with the output of the player and prompted management to extend his stay.
The Brazilian coach wants to stave off interest from Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho, who was keen on signing Essien.
The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract just 18 months ago, but Chelsea did not want to take any chances.
The new deal is worth US$160,000 a week until 2013.
A source close to Essien told The Sun: "Michael is delighted with the new deal.
"It's true that as soon as Jose Mourinho took over at Inter he made it clear he wanted Michael in Milan. But a new deal had almost already been agreed with Chelsea."
Essien has been one of Chelsea's most consistent performers after arriving from Lyon three years ago in a £24.4m deal and is central to new boss Phil Scolari's plans.
Essien was always the first name on former Blues chief Mourinho's team-sheet and continued to be one of Chelsea's key players last season after the Portuguese manager's departure.
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