Chelsea target Michael Essien is poised to sign a new contract with Lyon, according to the club's president Jean-Michel Aulas.
"As far as Essien is concerned, we have agreed with his agent and we now just need to convince him to stay," Aulas said.
The Ghanaian is coveted by many top European clubs, especially Premiership champions Chelsea, but he admits he may well be at the Stade Gerland next season.
"I am not ready to start strong arm tactics, I can remain one more year here," he told Skysports. "But after that I would have to exit the club in June 2006."
Aulas has also insisted he aims to keep Essien's fellow midfielders Juninho and Alou Diarra at the club ahead of next season.
Several Lyon players indicated that they might leave the club following the departure of coach Paul Le Guen last month, but Aulas is confident of keeping the squad together under new manager Gerard Houllier.
"A good recruitment policy implies that you keep your good players," said Aulas. "We have been tackling the case of Essien, Diarra and Juninho for the past few weeks."
Diarra has been strongly linked with a move away from the Stade Gerland, with Inter Milan waiting to swoop, but Aulas expects him to stay with the French champions.
"The negotiations with Diarra are tough especially because an Italian club (reportedly Inter) are doing all they can to get him. But we are not far away from making him accept a two-year extension with us.
"I don't think Juninho wants to go and I'm pretty sure we will reach an agreement with him when he comes back from his holiday."
Aulas went even further by insisting that both strikers Pierre-Alain Frau and Nilmar will continue to ply their trade at the club.
"There is no Nilmar case! Nilmar won't go to Troyes, Santos or Botafogo. It is out of question he leaves, we rely on him more than ever. Last season was a little difficult for him, but he is very young," he told Skysports.
"As for Pierre-Alain Frau, his second season will be better."
Lyon won their fourth consecutive French title in May and have the Champions League trophy in their sights as next season approaches.
If the likes of Essien do stay at the French outfit and they recruit intelligently in the summer, there is no reason why they will not be even stronger next season.
