Essien For Real Madrid?

JOSE MOURINHO has told Real Madrid to make a £50?million move on his old club Chelsea for Michael Essien and Ashley Cole.

Mourinho, who had talks with Real on Monday and is expected to be named as their new boss within the week, has already lined up a hitlist of summer targets with an expected £100m budget at his disposal.

His interest in Cole is well known, and a £25m bid is being prepared. But the Daily Express can reveal that Mourinho also wants powerhouse midfielder Essien. Essien, 27, missed half the season with knee ligament problems, which he suffered on international duty with Ghana in January.

He is now close to recovery and is expected to figure for his country again in South Africa next month, where Ghana are in a group with Germany, Australia and Serbia.

Mourinho also covets Frank Lampard but knows he would not be allowed to prise him away from Stamford Bridge – nor is Lampard keen to leave. But he believes he has a chance of getting Essien, whom he signed for Chelsea from Lyon in 2005 for £26m. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti rates Essien highly but coped well enough without him last season. But, with both Michael Ballack and Joe Cole still to sign new contracts and Deco leaving, he will not want to lose any more players from midfield.

Essien is one of the players Chelsea could pick up substantial funds for if they sold him, unlike either Cole or Ballack, who would be free transfers.

Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes and Real representatives were in talks with Inter yesterday to negotiate his release from the club he led to the Champions League title on Saturday. Mourinho is expected back in Madrid today for further discussions.