Lyon accuse Chelsea of raising Tiago stakes

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has slammed Chelsea after claiming the Premiership champions have increased their asking price for Tiago.

The French champions want the Portuguese midfielder to replace Michael Essien, who moved the other way for £24.4m ( €35.8m) earlier this month.

Aulas met Tiago, 24, and his agent Jorge Mendes in Monte Carlo at the start of the week and then travelled to London but negotiations are still deadlocked over the size of the fee.

“Tiago was the priority following the departure of Michael to Chelsea,” Aulas told L’Equipe. “But we are a little bit irritated by the raising of the price.”

Lyon, meanwhile, have decided against a move for Toulouse’s Achille Emana, who is a possible transfer target for Arsenal.

Toulouse announced in a statement that Lyon had pulled out of any move for the 23-year-old Cameroon-born player.

Philippe Flavier, Emana’s agent, said: “He will not go to Lyon and his disappointment is huge.”

However, Arsenal are still said to be interested in acquiring Emana. Former Gunners defender Tony Adams admitted yesterday he had carried out a spying mission for Highbury boss Arsene Wenger.

Adams, now a part of the coaching set-up at Feyenoord, watched Emana in Toulouse’s goalless draw with Lille as Arsenal continue to search for a replacement for Patrick Vieira, who joined Juventus over the summer.

“I am here for Emana,” Adams declared. “It was Arsene Wenger who asked me to come to France to see him play. I think he is looking for a midfielder to replace Vieira.”