Roberto Di Matteo has revealed that Michael Essien is free to leave Chelsea on loan before the end of the transfer window.
The Ghanaian midfielder has yet to start a Blues match this season and was left out of their squad for the Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid tonight.
However, Di Matteo has insisted that Essien will not be joining rivals Arsenal, as reports had earlier suggested.
There is thought to be interest from both the Premier League and abroad for the 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2005.
