The Frank Lampard episode is kind of becoming nasty, isn’t it? My stance is quite clear. I want Frank Lampard to stay at Chelsea FC’s terms. But I think he’s going. With Jose on the other side of the table, it’s most likely that he’s going. Let’s see this from various sides – from Lampard, Chelsea FC and FC Inter.

Lampard is in his last year of contract. Any other player would have already bought out his contract. Lampard has not, because he genuinely wants to stay at Chelsea, but at his terms. Chelsea FC is offering a 4 year contract of 150,000 pounds. In my opinion, this is a massive contract. Chelsea FC has truly honoured Lampard for his relentless services by offering such a huge contract for a 30-year old. How many 30-year olds would get such a contract? That too, you can’t really say that his best is yet to come. The team is no longer built around him. Don’t mistake me. I’m a great fan of Lampard. Given the current circumstances, he must be grateful for such a contract. If I were negotiating on behalf of Chelsea FC with Lampard’s agent I would not have gone beyond a three year contract at 120,000 pounds a week.

Lampard is asking for a five year contract at 150,000 pounds. That’s him or his agent being too greedy. Frank Lampard at 34 or 35 years – how effective would he be? Would his output be worth 150,000 pounds a week? I have my doubts. May be, of late, he has set his minds on FC Inter. At the same time, he does not want to be the one to make the initiative of joining FC Inter. He might be expecting Chelsea FC to turn down his contract expectation so that he’d be left with no option other than to join FC Inter.

Kenyon has other ideas. He says Lampard would either accept Chelsea’s offer or see out his contract. Would Lampard be in a position to get a 150,000 pounds a week, at the end of 08-09 season? I doubt and I guess his agent would be doubting that. That’s why I don’t see Lampard seeing out his contract. Either he signs a contract with Chelsea or he joins FC Inter. I don’t see any other option. The offer made by FC Inter is not better than the Chelsea offer. FC Inter are only offering 120,000 pounds a week in a four year contract which can extend to five years if he wins the champions league.

I’d say the Chelsea offer is lot better. He gets a lengthy contract, lots of money, gets to stay in London, play with his buddies, plays to the fans that love him and plays in a league that suits him best. If he wants to re-unite with Jose Mourinho and if that is on top of his list, then so be it. It’s no surprise that he wants to join Jose. It was under Jose, Lampard became a star, he won the runner up for world player of the year. Lampard was never accepted as a good player and was never put in the same league of his midfield contemporaries. May be he is still not regarded by many as such. Jose made him think that he is special and he is the best midfielder in the world and went around saying that. Just as the way a lot of players wanting to re-join their mentors, Lampard is itching to join back Jose.

Knowing that he is in the last season of his contract at Chelsea, Jose would try to nick him at all costs. He can wait till the next season but he wants to make an impression at Inter. He needs his most reliable players – Lampard is the one that is within reach.

If Lampard wants to join FC Inter, he should make it pretty clear and leave. To make the best out of the situation by charging with a ’150k a week – 5 year’ contract, he is just proving that he is no different than the general league of players who have only one thing in mind. He should realise that he is already a Chelsea legend and by playing a few more years in Chelsea, his name would be permanently etched in the Chelsea all time hall of fame.

I love Lampard. He personifies Chelsea spirit. He is the consummate professional. He has played an unforgettable role in all of our recent successes. He is the core of this Chelsea team. I wish and hope he stays with Chelsea. I don’t care so much about the non-core players who are always a floating group. They come and go. But players like Terry, Lampard, Joe Cole, Drogba, Essien and Cech are the heart and soul. They should remain. As much as I want Lampard to stay, I don’t want the club to succumb to his unreasonable demands. I guess his future would be resolved this weekend. I hope it is in our favour.

Gary Cahill to Chelsea?






    • View Results

Loading ... Loading ...