Essien, 22, who joined the Ligue 1 club in 2003 on a four-year deal, has still to sign a contract extension with Lyon.
"If chief executive Peter Kenyon proposes a deal because Chelsea have signed Eto'o or Adriano, I'd listen.
"But I don't believe in Father Christmas," Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas told sports newspaper l'Equipe.
Last season Ghana international Essien was voted Player of the Year by France's National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP).
Lyon have reportedly already turned down a £10m bid by Chelsea for Essien, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
"Before he left for Ghana he told me he wanted to stay another year," added Aulas.
The Lyon chief also revealed that the French champions were interested in two strikers - Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh and Liverpool's Milan Baros.
"We have already made one, big offer for Chamakh. We want him, he's our priority," he said.
"We're waiting to hear from Baros and I plan to go to Prague to see him this week with coach Gerard Houllier."