Glazers tell Ferguson to go for Essien

Saturday's Sun claimed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson boss had got the go-ahead to bid ?17million for Essien.

The Glazers - new owners of ManU - have told United manager Ferguson to go for Lyon midfield ace.

The Ghana international is rated at ?21 million by Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas and has seen an offer from Chelsea rejected by his French club in the past fortnight.

United boss Ferguson has been trailing Essien for two years, having failed to push through a deal for the midfielder when he was a teenager and available for nothing.

The Ghanaian, 22, has become a top target for Manchester United's manager after new owner Malcolm Glazer's son Joel insisted money would be made available.