Juve & Inter monitor Lampard Tuesday 23 January, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are conflicting reports over the future of Chelsea ace Frank Lampard after he was linked with a move to Italy.
The 28-year-old is contracted to the Blues until June 2009, but he has not yet renewed his deal which fuelled speculation that he might become a target for Italian clubs.
The Tuttosport newspaper claims that Juventus may be keen on making a bid, while the Corriere dello Sport suggested Inter were monitoring his situation after comments attributed to his agent.
“He has two years left on his deal and it’s down to chief executive Peter Kenyon to talk to me, which I'm happy to do,” said Steve Kutner to the Guardian.
“If he wants to leave he could although that is nowhere near his mind at the moment. In any case, a new deal is still a long way off.”
Kutner’s words were interpreted as an open door for Juventus, who are currently looking to strengthen their midfield.
Lampard has therefore been added to a shortlist which already includes Maniche of Atletico Madrid, Torsten Frings of Werder Bremen and former Bianconero Emerson at Real Madrid.
However, another agent has insisted that Lampard – who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2001 from West Ham – will not leave the London club.
“I have read the papers, but the reports are groundless,” said Franco Granello to news agency GRT.
“Lampard has a huge contract with Chelsea and is fine there. There is no possibility that he will leave England and I’m 99 per cent sure that he will stay with Chelsea.”
Channel 4