Michael Essien's odds of leaving Chelsea in January are very likely but his agent has ruled out a move back to France.
The 31-year old Ghanaian midfielder made his name at Bastia before moving onto Lyon in 2003 but his representative Fabien Piveteau says a Ligue 1 club is not ideal as he prepares to depart Stamford Bridge in the New Year.
"You've got to stop with all that. Michael plays for Chelsea, a big club, so there's no point in dreaming about him coming back to France," Piveteau told RMC.
"In France, he could only play in Paris, Lyon... but Bastia, Sochaux, without disrespecting them, no. It's impossible for them to take on a Chelsea player's salary."
Piveteau added: "It's true that he could leave Chelsea this winter. Several big European clubs playing in the Champions League have made enquiries and it should play out in the next 10 days or so.
"Michael wasn't included in Chelsea's list of players for European competition, so he's free to play in the Champions League with another club."
