Liverpool are believed to be close to making their first signing of the summer as they step up their interest in Ghanaian midfielder Mickael Essien.
Essien, dubbed by many as the new Patrick Vieira, has had a sensational season for French club Bastia, helping them stave off relegation and Gerard Houllier is expected to finalise a £4million deal this week.
Liverpool are believed to have beaten local rivals Everton and French champions Lyon in the chase for the services of the battling midfielder, who has clocked up one red and 14 yellow cards this season.
However, should the deal go through it is unlikely that Essien will be playing in the Premiership next season. The Reds are understood to be ready to sign Essien and then loan him back to Bastia for a year, giving the 20-year-old time to mature as a player.
Elsewhere, Houllier has given flop Frenchman Bruno Cheyrou a vote of confidence, insisting that the attacking midfielder will prove his worth next season. "He has the skill and the talent, which is the most important ingredient," said Houllier.
"He has probably been surprised by the physical aspect of the game over here. Now he has integrated that into his game and next season you will see a better player. He is in the same situation as Pires and Wiltord when they came to England. I was talking to a friend of mine, someone who is a high profile manager, and he said that foreign players sometime take a year or two to adapt but that when they do adapt they can be something special," the Reds' boss insisted.
Filed by Rob Wright
