Chelsea mates Lampard and Anelka heading to QPR

Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is in talks to terminate his contract with his current Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, the club said Monday.

"The discussion is between the club and himself, I don't know about the specific details," Shanghai Shenhua spokesman Ma Yue said. "But so far we haven't got the final result."

According to the sports website of leading Internet portal Sina.com, Anelka has agreed to forego the final year of his contract, worth $7 million, as long as Shanghai allows him to leave on a free transfer.

The report said the former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea player was looking to return to the Premiership by signing with Queens Park Rangers.

Anelka, who has 69 caps for France, created headlines when he signed with Shanghai at the beginning of last season, becoming China's first direct import from the English Premier League.

But his presence failed to inspire the team and he scored only three goals during the season, with Shanghai finishing ninth in the 16-team Super League.

As the side struggled, Shanghai brought in Anelka's former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba, making the team one of the highest paid in the league.

Anelka could be reunited with his former team mate at Stamford Bridge Frank Lampard who is weighing up a move to QPR after falling out of favour at Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail.

The veteran midfielder is out of contract in the summer but he may hasten his exit after being snubbed by Rafael Benitez for Chelsea's Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey, reports the Sunday People.

Despite Ramires being out injured Benitez opted to use David Luiz in an unfamiliar midfield role rather than turn to the 34-year-old England international.

However, Lampard was given the captains' arm band in the final against Corinthians which they lost 1-0.
 

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