Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf is the new coach of AC Milan and there are suggestions that his first act may be to sign Chelsea's Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien.
Seedorf is set to land in Milan later today (Wednesday) to begin his tenure as AC Milan coach having replaced the axed Massimiliano Allegri.
Seedorf has a lot of work to do if he is to turn around the fortunes of a Rossoneri side languishing in lower mid-table after a dismal first part of the season.
Beginning his first coaching role having left Brazilian side Botafogo to take up the challenge, Seedorf is expected to look for new faces as quickly as possible.
It is widely believed that one of the reasons Milan pulled the plug on Allegri when they did was so that Seedorf could choose some recruits and it is being suggested that the first of those may be Chelsea's Michael Essien.
The Ghanian midfielder was a pivotal figure after joining Chelsea in 2005 and he has won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
But recently Essien hasn't featured heavily in first-team plans and he has indicated that he would be open to a January switch, possibly on loan.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, immediately after signing his contract tomorrow (Thursday) Seedorf will have a long meeting with transfer guru Adriano Galliani to discuss Milan's approach to the winter market.
The report suggests that Allegri had been reticent to sign Essien as he felt the 31-year-old didn't fit in with his tactics but that Seedorf may have a different view.
No approach has been made yet but the switch in coach at San Siro may now open the way for Essien to join Milan with the most likely scenario being a loan until the end of the season with the possibility of making the transfer permanent then.
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