Skysports.com can reveal that Chelsea are planning a double raid on French champions Lyon.
The Premiership champions are widely thought to be keen on signing Michael Essien and they are also interested in his midfield team-mate Mahamadou Diarra.
Diarra is one of several Lyon players who has attracted the interest of a host of clubs after a number of impressive performances at home and abroad for Lyon.
The Mali international enjoyed an impressive campaign at Lyon last term helping the club claim their fourth successive French title and make the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea have declared an interest in Diarra and are thought to be keen to take him and Essien from Stade Gerland.
Lyon are keen to keep Diarra with chairman Jean-Michel Aulas insistent they have no plans to sell any of their top stars.
Diarra´s agent Frederic Guerra has admitted that Chelsea have made an enquiry for the player, but that Lyon rejected their overtures.
" Chelsea want to sign Mahamadou," Guerra told skysports.com.
" I believe they want to sign two players from Lyon - Mahamadou and ( Michael) Essien
" I think they made a move for him last week, but the Lyon president turned it down.
" We are now waiting for another proposition from Spain, Italy or England."
En gros La bande au portugais veulent Essien et Diarra : et avec ca 1 mars et 100 € ?
Sinon sur le meme site ils annonce officielement que Juni restent. En meme temps les anglais et leurs rumeurs à 2 cents . ..