Houllier - as Essien's agent readily admits - was simply in France to watch Gregory Vignal. This fact, though, has not been enough to get in the way of a good story.
The player's agent Fabien Piveteau said: "Everton are the only club to have made an offer although I think Lyon will make an offer next week and so we will see what happens.
"Liverpool have also seen Mickael and have talked about him, but they were really keeping an eye on their own player [Gregory] Vignal."
Although Piveteau knows that Liverpool's interest in his client is slight, he has saw fit to exploit the situation for his, and Essien's, own interests.
He continued: "He wants to play in England, that is for sure. He is now back in Ghana and will be playing for the national side in their African Cup games, but he knows what is going on.
"He knows about Everton and has seen how well they have done in the Premiership and he would be happy going there.
"The Liverpool situation is different, as he knows what players they have and so we will have to see."
