Lampard: Barca Will Bid Today, Chelsea Will Reject It
Barcelona will today make their first formal contact with Chelsea about midfielder Frank Lampard, with an opening bid of £12 million that the Blues will promptly reject, telling the Catalan giants that he is not for sale at any price.
That, anyway, is what The Sun is reporting on its back pages today.
The newspaper also claims that Chelsea officials will follow that up by arranging another meeting with Lampard to discuss a new contract when he returns for pre-season training next week.
Despite the ongoing contract saga and persistent interest from Barcelona - as well as Juventus - Chelsea are confident they can reach an agreement with Lampard and his advisers over an extension to the two years left on his current deal.
Accordingly they are expected to continue turning down any bids for the 28-year-old England international.
However, Barcelona are said to be equally persistent in their determination to lure him to Catalunya, and are braced for a war of attrition to achieve their objective.
The Sun quotes a "senior source at the Nou Camp" as saying: “We know the negotiation will be a complex one.
“But coach Frank Rijkaard has made his feelings clear on Lampard and it’s now up to the directors to find a way to sign him.
“We don’t expect it will happen quickly but we have time before the new La Liga season begins and we are prepared to do what is necessary.”
Meanwhile, Lampard’s agent, Steve Kutner, is relaxed, saying there is no hurry to resolve this issue.
"Frank will join up with Chelsea next week and will be as committed as ever," he said.
“Nothing can get sorted out until he gets back, but there is no rush.”
goal.com