Frank Lampard yet to open talks on his future at Chelsea

Published on 24/07/2012 01:41

Frank Lampard has refused to rule out this being his final season at Chelsea.

Lampard, who joined the Blues in 2001, is entering the last year of his contract and has been heavily linked with a move to Los Angeles Galaxy.

The 34-year-old England midfielder has previously expressed his desire to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge but suggested yesterday he had yet to open talks with the club over his future.

After captaining Chelsea to a 1-1 draw with Paris St Germain in the early hours of yesterday morning, the first football match ever at the new Yankee Stadium, Lampard was asked about a potential move to Major League Soccer.

“I’m not sure,” said the man who captained the Blues to Champions League glory in May. “I have another year on my contract at Chelsea. We have a big season. We play in the Super Cup and the World Club Championship in December.

“Then it’s up to Chelsea. If they want to speak with me about my future, then I’ll speak with them. I wouldn’t rule anything out at the moment.”

Yesterday, John Terry made his first appearance in a Chelsea shirt since he was acquitted by a court of racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand, the 31-year-old coming on as a second-half substitute. He was given a hero’s welcome as he entered the field. “It felt very good,” he said. Manager Roberto Di Matteo added: “He’s come through the ranks of our club and he’s an icon. He’s just happy he can move on and play football again.”

Chelsea have already spent big this summer to sign long-term successors to Terry and Lampard and have been linked with a host of other players. Brazil star Oscar appears to set to join them after the Olympics, having confirmed he underwent a medical with the Londoners.

The president of his current club Internacional, Giovanni Luigi, has now told Radio Guiaba: “There is a verbal agreement between the two parties.

“But we have to put that on paper and the lawyers of both clubs have to discuss the matter.”

Eden Hazard’s brother Thorgan is also said to be close to a switch from Lens. The European champions have also been linked with Hulk, Edinson Cavani and Cesar Azpilicueta.

Chelsea and are also believed to have had bids snubbed for Willian, Andre Schurrle and Robert Lewandowski.