Essien's agent denies Inter Milan approach for Chelsea midfielder

Michael Essien's agent has insisted that his client will not be joining Inter
Milan.

The Chelsea midfielder was linked with a move to the Italian club after the
appointment of former coach Jose Mourinho as their new boss.

Committed: Michael Essien

Essien, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Ricardo Carvalho are all thought to be
on Mourinho's wish list.

But Essien's agent Fabien Piveteau confirmed: "Michael is very happy at
Chelsea and that is where he will be playing next season. His current contract
runs until 2012. There has been no approach from Inter."

Meanwhile, AC Milan claim they have held informal talks with Chelsea over a
possible double swoop for strikers Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani also claimed that Kaka's name came up in
conversation with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon but he insisted the 2007
FIFA World Footballer of the Year is staying put.

His claims emerged on a day when AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti ruled himself
out of the running for the vacant managerial position at Stamford Bridge and
Chelsea were linked with a move for Roma boss Luciano Spalletti.

Ancelotti dismissed speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea as "fantasy
football" but Galliani revealed that he had spoken to Kenyon on Tuesday and a
number of players were discussed.

"Yesterday we had a chat with Mr Kenyon of Chelsea," said Galliani.

"We were talking about football things in general. We still have a very good
rapport with Stamford Bridge."

Galliani revealed a list of names, including Shevchenko, Drogba and Kaka, had
been discussed, saying: "Sure we talked about all these things. But I can tell
you for example that Kaka is absolutely not for sale. Just like Carlo Ancelotti,
he will be here next season."

Milan are desperate to sign a new striker and Galliani has previously indicated
Drogba is high on Ancelotti's wish list.

Drogba himself was open about wanting to leave Chelsea in the wake of Jose
Mourinho's departure last September but later regretted making his remarks
public.

Shevchenko has failed to settle at Stamford Bridge since his move from Milan
two years ago and he is expected to return.

The Ukrainian has strong ties with the club and in particular with Silvio
Berlusconi, the former president who stepped down after being elected to his
third term as prime minister and who is godfather to the striker's son.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, has officially ruled out a move to Stamford Bridge
claiming: "It is just fantasy football that happens every year. I will stay
with AC Milan next season."

Ancelotti and Chelsea both released statements on Tuesday denying reports the
London club had made an approach for the double Champions League winner and
agreed terms for him to take over.

He was strongly linked with the Stamford Bridge post amid suggestions his
advisors had reached a settlement with the Blues over a move to England but the
48-year-old is under contract with Milan until 2010.

But speculation over Chelsea's new managerial target revolved around Spalletti
while Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, who was never on Chelsea's shortlist, agreed
to join Manchester City.

Spalletti led Roma to second place in Serie A as well as the quarter-finals of
the Champions League in each of the last two seasons.

But the key to his possible arrival at Stamford Bridge as a replacement for
sacked Avram Grant, could depend on former Chelsea favourite Gianfranco Zola
being named as his number two.

Zola remains a hero among the Chelsea fans after a distinguished playing career
with the club and his return as part of a managerial team would be welcomed by
supporters.

Spalletti, 49, who speaks little English, was hoping to boost his squad with a
sizeable transfer kitty this summer but that now looks increasingly unlikely
because of the debts of the club's parent company Italpetroli - thought to be in
the region of £300m.