Chelsea hero in limbo over future

Frank Lampard is in the dark about his Chelsea future. Photo credit: John Walton/EMPICS

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
8:15 AM

Transfer news: Frank Lampard is yet to hear whether he’ll be offered a new Blues contract

Frank Lampard is in the dark about his Chelsea future beyond this season.

The 34-year-old midfielder is still waiting to see if he will be offered a new contract which would enable him to end his career at Stamford Bridge.

He has one year left on his current agreement but there has been nothing concrete to suggest a new deal is forthcoming after an initial exchange last term.

Lampard, who will captain England in the friendly against Italy tonight, said: “We spoke once last season and it was a case of coming back - and it hasn’t come back from their end. I don’t know (what will happen).

“At the minute I’m just playing. I’d like to sit down and speak with them. But at the minute I’m playing and it’s up to the club to do that.

“I would like to end my career there. I feel I can play at the top level for a good few more years, but it’s whether the club feels the same.”

He added: “I know there are a lot of changes at Chelsea.

“I’d love to be involved, and the youth coming into the squad this year has really freshened up our team.

“I’d love to carry on but it’s a club decision to come and sit down with me.

“They used to sit down with me three years before the end of my contract. Now I’m waiting.”

Chelsea became the European Champions last season, beating Bayern Munich on penalties, and Lampard admits he it gave him a new lease of life.

He said: “It rejuvenated me without a doubt. It went from being the worst season I had at the club personally, all of us, into the greatest season in Chelsea’s history.

“I can’t explain how great it was to win it, the celebrations, etc. It was what football is all about, the trophy that got away for so long, and, when we got there, it was even better than expected.”