Meanwhile, Aulas is expected to meet Blues owner Roman Abramovich in the south of France later ths week.

Lyon spokesman Frederic Breffelh told PA International: “There is no date yet for the meeting – we can’t say when it will happen.

“They have to make a phone call first for that to happen.”

Last week, Aulas revealed that he was prepared to offer Essien a “golden contract” to keep him with the tam that has won the last four Ligue 1 titles.

However, in his remarks after Lyon opened their title defence with a 2-1 win over Le Mans, the president seemed to accept the player was intent on joining Chelsea.

Aulas told club website www.olweb.fr: “Mike Essien? It’s annoying to lose one of the best players in Europe but he has not gone yet.

“We could find a compromise to ensure he does not move until next year.

“Chelsea will have to be very persuasive for us to allow him to leave. Manchester (United) are after him as well.”

Last week Aulas had said he was not prepared to accept less than €45m (£31m) for Essien, whose midfield skills have been instrumental in the side’s success since he joined Lyon from Bastia in 2003.

He pointed out that the London outfit had been prepared to pay £32m for Steven Gerrard, who in the end decided to stick with Liverpool, while Aulas said that as Essien is younger than Gerrard that he was also a better long-term investment.

Later in the week, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon travelled to Lyon and contacted the club from a restaurant across the road from the headquarters of the French champions.

Aulas refused to meet him but sent an aide to study Kenyon’s proposal and later admitted that the offer was coming closer to an acceptable one.

Meanwhile, Aulas made it clear he is prepared to give Lyon boss Gerard Houllier more money to spend in the transfer market.

“As far as recruiting is concerned if Gerard needs reinforcements we will do what is necessary over the next period of the transfer window.”