Chelsea close to Ghana compromise

CHELSEA are close to reaching a compromise with Ghana over the availability of midfielder Michael Essien next month.

The Barclays Premiership leaders are set to be without Essien and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba for an unspecified time as the pair represent their countries in the African Nations Cup.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho has spoken to Essien’s national team boss Ratomir Dujkovic and Ghana’s sports minister Osei Bonsu Amoah and the latter has recommended that the Ghanaian football association should accept a deal whereby Essien would play in his country’s first two group games.