Reds rule out Essien swoop?

Gerard Houllier was said to be keen on acquiring the 20-year-old for an expected fee of £4m. Now, though, local newspaper reports insist that the Bastia midfielder will not be joining the Reds.

It seems likely that the Liverpool manager was merely keeping an eye on the progress of on-loan Gregory Vignal when he was spotted at a Bastia match recently.