Frank Lampard has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea this summer. The England midfielder's deal at the club expires on June 30th and though there is an offer to stay at the club on reduced terms, Lampard has decided not to extend his 13-year stay. Chelsea are set to make a €37 million bid for Barcelona's Cesc Fábregas to replace him.
Lampard has held talks with New York City over a prospective move to Major League Soccer’s new franchise, who have just signed the Atlético Madrid forward David Villa. The deal proposed by New York City, who have been set up and are backed by the Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, would offer Lampard similar wages to those he currently enjoys at Chelsea.
New York City are not Lampard’s only suitors and he has been approached by Manchester City’s Australian sister club, Melbourne Heart. He will consider his options in the short-term but the chance to play in New York would appear to be the most attractive at present.
Joining New York City would present Lampard, with an immediate dilemma as their MLS campaign would not start until March 2015. Lampard may, therefore, seek a short-term deal at a Premier League club before a move across the Atlantic, with QPR interested in securing his services.
Lampard’s has won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, four FA Cups and two League Cups at Chelsea, with the midfielder contributing 211 goals en route. The player turns 36 later this month, during the World Cup, where he will vice captain England.
Chelsea earlier emerged as surprise contenders to lure Fábregas back to the Premier League after Arsenal indicated they would not be taking up their option to re-sign their former captain from Barcelona.
Fábregas has been informed he can leave Camp Nou this summer after three seasons back at the Catalan club with Barca. New manager Luis Enrique is seeking to sign the Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke, a move which would limit the Fábregas's first-team opportunities. The 27-year-old Spain international is disappointed Arsenal have opted against pursuing a return to the Emirates stadium, but is willing to consider other options in England.
Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all considered moves for the midfielder in the past, but it is understood their respective priorities lie elsewhere in the market this summer. Chelsea had hoped to secure Koke themselves as they seek a long-term successor for Lampard.
Fábregas, capped 87 times by Spain and a two-time European Championships and World Cup winner, could operate in a deep-lying role alongside Nemanja Matic and dictate the rhythm of Chelsea’s performances, and is attractive given his familiarity with the rigours of the Premier League.
The player may need some convincing given his deep-lying affinity with Arsenal, where he spent eight years and played 212 league games, but his desire to play in England for a Champions League qualifier does appear to limit his options.
He would, however, have to build bridges with José Mourinho, with whom he has endured a tempestuous relationship over the years. Only in February he told the Portuguese to “shut up” following Barcelona’s Champions League last 16 defeat of City despite Mourinho having branded the Catalans’ team the worst for “many years”.
Chelsea had initially indicated they envisaged a relatively quiet summer in the market, with the Atlético forward Diego Costa their priority signing. The Spain international is expected to join for €39 million from the La Liga winners, but he may now be followed by his club-mates Tiago Mendes, who played under Mourinho during his first spell at Stamford Bridge, under the Bosman ruling and the left back Filipe Luis for around €22 million. The latter will serve as a replacement for the departing Ashley Cole.
They also hope to add another striker, possibly Mario Mandzukic of Bayern Munich, to the ranks yet, with David Luiz's sale to Paris St Germain for around €50 million having offered some much needed leeway in the market, the squad appears likely to undergo considerable and eye-catching changes.
(Guardian Service)
