Midfielder Frank Lampard is thought to be “distraught” after being told by Chelsea to forget about a new contract and find a club as soon as the January transfer window opens.
Lampard, 34, has been an instrumental figure in Chelsea’s success over the past decade, helping the club to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, and the 2012 Champions League trophy. He is also Chelsea’s third highest goal-scorer of all-time, notching up 186 strikes since signing from West Ham in 2001.
Lampard was always considered an automatic choice until this season, when his place in the team came under threat by the arrivals of fresh faces, brought in by owner Roman Abramovich to lead the Blues into a new era.
While the England international no longer possesses the same energy levels that saw him become arguably the Premier League’s greatest ever goal-scoring, box-to-box midfielder, he has still shown that he is capable of performing at the highest level.
However, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there is the widespread opinion that he will be shown the Stamford Bridge exit, thus pulling down the curtain on an incredibly successful and illustrious career.
According to British newspaper, The Sun, Lampard is said to be devastated that he will not be offered a new deal and is flabbergasted the club are treating him with such disrespect considering everything he has helped them to achieve.
A source inside Chelsea told The Sun: “Frank is absolutely distraught.
“He wants to keep playing for Chelsea but they’ve told him to find another club in the January transfer window. He can’t believe it. All he wants to do is play for Chelsea. This club means everything to him.”
The source added: “Frank worships the club — and especially the fans — and would happily have seen out his career at Stamford Bridge.
“After everything he has done for Chelsea, he cannot believe the way the club are throwing him out so callously.
“Anyone who saw his performance against Aston Villa will know he should be the first name on the team sheet.
“To think he went into that game knowing the club don’t want him and then to play the way he did tells you what an unbelievable professional Frank is.”
Lampard is sure to have a few options if he decides to extend his playing days. Former club West Ham as well as London rivals Queens Park Rangers have been linked in the media, while a move to the United States with LA Galaxy has also been mentioned as a possibility.
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