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28 March 2024

Chelsea shock as Lampard signs deal to leave

Frank Lampard has been an iconic player at Chelsea. (FILE)

Published
By Staff

Chelsea still recovering from the trauma of racist taunts allegedly directed at their players by referee Mark Clattenburg, face a battle on their hands to keep veteran duo Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

With their Champions League campaign in tatters after having surrendered their top position in the Premier League, another seismic wave is about to erupt at Stamford Bridge.

England midfielder Lampard is poised to quit Chelsea and follow Didier Drogba to China while left-back Cole may be lured to France, according to the Daily Mail (https://bit.ly/RrCRSB).

Chinese side Guizhou's owner is reported to have told China Central Television that the midfielder has already agreed a deal.

The 34-year-old midfielder will be out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer and has repeatedly been linked with a move away.

David Beckham's LA Galaxy are also interested in offering him a two or three-year contract.

MLS commissioner Don Garber previously insisted Lampard would be welcome in America.

Garber said: "Frank Lampard's a great player. He has a great history with the sport.

"If he decides he wants to play in Major League Soccer, I'm sure any club would be happy to have him on their roster."

Meanwhile, Paris St Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti has spoken to Cole about a possible switch to the Ligue 1 big spenders, Le 10 sport has reported.

Robert Pires, who was a team-mate of Cole's at Arsenal, believes the possibility would interest the left-back, telling the paper: "Paris could be interesting for him, at a sporting level and a financial level.

"I think he could say OK to Paris. The plans attract him, I know him well and I'm sure he is interested."

The Blues are refusing to be drawn into a bidding war for the England duo despite the prospect of them leaving on free transfers in the summer.

Lampard and Cole can enter into talks with clubs when the transfer window opens on January 1.