Greek giants Panathinaikos have started negotiations with Ghana midfielder Michael Essien over a move in the summer when his contract expires with Italian side AC Milan, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

A close associate of the powerful midfielder has told Ghana's leading football news outfit that Essien's representative has received a big offer of more than 1 million Euros per year.

Insiders says Panathinaikos have tabled a two-year for the Ghanaian with annual wages in the Region of 1.5 Million Euros.

The offer is lucrative for the Ghanaian whose contract with AC Milan comes to an end in June and with no offer tabled from any club, the offer looks enticing to Essien.

The Ghanaian midfielder is seriously considering to join the Greens who are not keen to reveal the details of the said meeting with his agents.

Panathinaikos played down any rumours linking them with the AC Milan midfielder this morning.

However, there is concrete evidence that Panathinaikos Technical Directors Leonidas Vokolos and Takis Fyssas met with Essien agents in Athens some three days ago.

Essien's contract expires at Milan this summer and the player has already received offers from MLS, UAE, India and Russia as well.

The negotiations between Panathinaikos and Essien's agent are likely to keep going and there is a confidence that a deal can be reached.