Kenyon: Chelsea wanted Essien and Gerrard

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has revealed the club’s pursuit of Michael Essien never wavered even during their attempt to sign Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Ssien finally completed his protracted £24.4m (€36m) move from Lyon today and Kenyon insisted Chelsea would not have lost interest in the 22-year-old even if Gerrard had opted to move south this summer.