Jose Mourinho expects Frank Lampard to be offered a contract that would keep the midfielder at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his career. The Chelsea manager has ruled out any prospect of Barcelona signing the 27-year-old, who has become one of the central figures in his team.

Lampard's existing deal runs until the summer of 2009 and it is a sign of Mourinho's high regard for the England international that he is already raising the prospect of an extension. Mourinho has described Lampard as the best player in the world, saying his consistency is unmatched and suggesting the midfielder's game does not contain a weakness.

"I believe before his contract ends, Chelsea will offer him an agreement until the end of his career," Mourinho said. "I don't think there is any chance of Frank joining Barcelona. He has the kind of deal which I doubt any club in the world could beat.

"We don't need to sell players and he loves Chelsea. I would not change him for anyone. His performances from the beginning to the end in any circumstances are incomparable."

Lampard played a record 164 consecutive Premiership games for Chelsea before missing last month's match at Manchester City because of illness.

Barcelona's interest seemed to be confirmed recently when Ronaldinho was quoted as saying that everybody at the club was talking about Lampard and Thierry Henry.

The former West Ham player's Spanish fiancee is from a family of Barcelona fans, and Lampard has described the Catalan club as his favourite team in Spain. But he says he has all he wants at Chelsea, where he looks set to win a second Premiership and has performed so well he was runner-up as world player of the year for 2005.

"He's strong as an ox, he'll run all day, trains like a lunatic, fantastic," Harry Redknapp, who managed Lampard at West Ham, said yesterday.

The Portsmouth manager joked: "I'd have him, definitely, definitely - he'd definitely get a game."

Chelsea are still waiting for clarification on the extent of Michael Essien's ankle injury but the midfielder could still go with Ghana to the African Nations Cup if he responds well to treatment. Mourinho had said he believed the 23-year-old would have to withdraw from the tournament.

Mourinho also made it clear that he wants to keep versatile French defender William Gallas who has been consistently linked with Juventus.

But the Portuguese coach is adamant that he will remain a Chelsea player and singled the Frenchman out for individual praise.

"Gallas is an amazing and consistent player, who can operate in any position in defence," added Mourinho. "Within our defence, he is the one I have picked, plus three others."

Mourinho will rest a clutch of his regular first team players against Huddersfield in the FA Cup tomorrow and could blood new signing Maniche.

Maniche completed his loan deal from Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday and could begin his career in England against the League One opposition.

Lampard and skipper John Terry, along with goalkeeper Petr Cech, are almost certain to be missing with German international Robert Huth replacing Terry and Maniche possibly pencilled in to replace Lampard.

Striker Hernan Crespo is also doubtful for the FA Cup clash with Town and England Under-21 international Carlton Cole could be handed a place in the starting line-up if Gudjohnsen retains his current midfield role.