Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is open to allowing midfielder Michael Essien to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the month.

Essien has been linked with a move to AC Milan, and despite revealing that he would be happy for the Ghanaian to remain at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho has insisted that he will respect his player's wishes should he receive an offer to leave the club.

The 50-year-old told reporters: "Michael Essien is, at this moment, in a position where he can go or he can stay. If he stays, we are more than happy, he is a fantastic club man, but he is another player that has given everything to this club, and if something big comes to him, he is another that we feel we must show him the respect.

"If he stays, he stays and if he stays, he is playing against Stoke next weekend."

Essien has featured nine times for Chelsea during the current campaign.