Chelsea losing plot: Cole and Lampard to go

Roberto Di Matteo is resigned to losing Chelsea greats Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard in January with both players failing to agree a new deal with the club.

Di Matteo wants Cole and Lampard, who are free to sign pre-contract agreements with rival clubs in January, to stay and has repeatedly insisted they have many more years at the top.
 
But he confirmed he was powerless to intervene in contract negotiations beyond recommending that the players form part of his future plans.
 
Asked if he was worried about what could happen in January, Di Matteo said: "Yeah, but that's the world of football.
 
"That's how you live in this world, in this industry.
 
"We had the same last season with some players and, at the end of the day, we all have to be professional and try to do our best, even though maybe the contract is not sorted out."

Cole, 31, is holding out for a longer contract but the board show no sign of compromising their policy of only offering deals of one year to a player over the age of 30.

"He's a fit boy, he plays every game or he can play every game so he has many years in front of him,' said Di Matteo.

"There are ongoing negotiations with the club and that is something that he discusses with the club. My point is that I would like him to stay and be here with us.

"For me, he's one of the best left-backs in the world and a great asset for this team and club. He's very good defensively and offensively provides a lot of attacking options.

"His positional awareness is very good and he's got experience. Technically he's good, he's got stamina - he's got everything."

Cole has previously been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.
 
The former Arsenal star is reportedly even refusing to rule out a second high-profile defection by joining Manchester United.

Lampard, meanwhile, is on the radar of Major League Soccer, as a possible big-name replacement for David Beckham.
 
Midfielder Lampard, 34, has scored 188 goals in more than 600 appearances for the Blues since signing from West Ham for £11m in 2001.
 

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