Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien has received the thumbs up from Chelsea’s technical bench and a host of soccer reporters across the globe for his play since joining the premiership championships.

And one of Essien’s former club bosses foresees the 24 million pound signing becoming the best player within the next two years.

Alhaji Sly Tetteh, chairman of Ghana’s Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals says Michael Essien is worth the huge transfer fee splashed on him by Roman Abramovich.

“I think Michael needs to keep his head up. He is a good player and I think within the next two years, he would be the best.” Sly Tetteh told Joy Sports.

“He was worth that amount after Lyon signed him on from Bastia. Michael deserves that amount.

“But the problem would be Michael leaving Chelsea. I don’t know what price would be quoted if he has to move.”

But the president of FIFA has asked the French football authorities to suspend the license of Michael Essien's agent after learning of the two-year suspended sentence he received for the misappropriation of funds that were to be used to finance a terrorist enterprise, a spokesman for Sepp Blatter confirmed yesterday.

Fabien Piveteau, the Monaco-based representative of Essien, remains a licensed agent accredited by the French Football Federation despite having been convicted in May for being an accessory to the diversion of funds during the Chelsea midfielder's move from the Corsican club Bastia to Lyon in 2003.