Just a few months ago, Chelsea couldn’t push Frank Lampard out the exit door fast enough, but the Blues have had a recent change of heart.
Chelsea has reversed its stance on Lampard and now wants to keep the veteran midfielder at Stamford Bridge for at least one more season, according to the Mail.
“Lampard … had been told he could leave Chelsea at the end of the season,” the report says. “Incredibly, Chelsea made their move for the fans’ favourite last week and talks about him staying are at a preliminary stage.
“Sources at Stamford Bridge insisted this morning that the talks were ‘positive’ and the club will formalise the fresh talks with a firm offer.”
Lampard’s contract expires at the end of the 2012-13 season. Clubs in England, Italy and the U.S. have expressed interest in signing him, but he has repeatedly said he wants to stay at Chelsea where he is a club legend.
His recent run of good form has brought him to within five goals of Bobby Tambling‘s record for most goals in Chelsea history (202), and fans have grown increasingly vocal about wanting to keep Lampard at the club. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich just might do their bidding.
Lampard believes he still has much to offer at the highest level, and his recent performances suggest he is correct. He has scored 10 goals in 17 Premier League games this season. He also scored for England in a 2-1 win over Brazil on Wednesday. Roy Hodgson encourages Lampard to stay in Europe (if he leaves Chelsea) for the sake of his international career. Chelsea could be ready to make it easy for the England manager to monitor Lampard by keeping him where he has been since 2001.
Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
