CHELSEA legend Michael Essien has turned his attention to the A-League after returning to Stamford Bridge last month to train with manager Antonio Conte.
Essien, 33, has given an Australian agent a mandate to find him a club in the A-League.
The Ghanaian international won two titles, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League during eight-and-a-half years at Chelsea before joining AC Milan in 2014.
The agent yesterday confirmed to The Advertiser Essien was available at this stage of the Australian preseason.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWAdelaide United is one club which has a foreign spot available but club officials have their eyes set on securing a Spanish central striker.
Essien may be secured as one of Football Federation Australia’s full season guest players.
A-League clubs can win financial assistance if they attract big-name players who satisfy strict FFA criteria.
Melbourne City completed this process with the signing of Socceroos legend Tim Cahill.
However the FFA turned down Italian international Alessandro Diamanti, which means clubs will be wary of exploring Essien’s availability.
Diamanti was reportedly rejected as a potential guest player option for Melbourne Victory despite the 33-year-old Italian playing in the EURO 2012 where the Azzurri reached the final, the English Premier League and Italy’s Serie A.
Known as the ‘Bison’ due to his strength and incredible stamina, defensive midfielder Essien who recently ended his tenure at Greek club Panathinaikos, has company in his search for an A-League club.
Argentine striker Gonzalo Bergessio, 32, who played for Italy’s Sampdoria, Portugal’s Benfica, and recently Atlas of Mexico, has been presented as an option for A-League clubs.
So too has attacker/winger Andrea Gasbarroni, 35, after the Italian was on the books of Juventus, Torino and Parma.