|
DISILLUSIONED: Frank Lampard feels let down by his club. His new contract is still pending when Chelsea signed Deco on Monday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
|
LONDON - CHELSEA midfielder Frank Lampard has reportedly agreed to join Inter Milan, with the clubs agreeing on a £7 million (S$19 million) transfer fee.
The Mirror reported yesterday that the deal has been done, despite recent claims by Inter's new manager Jose Mourinho that it would not be reached this summer.
According to the British paper, Lampard, 30, has been offered a four-year deal worth £24 million in total.
And the England midfielder accepted it because he will have the chance to link up again with Mourinho, who was Chelsea's coach from 2004 to 2007.
Inter's president Massimo Moratti has yet to announce Lampard's capture publicly.
But The Mirror reported that privately, the Italian club say the deal is done and that Lampard will be unveiled at the San Siro once he returns from holiday in Sicily at the end of this week.
The move comes just 24 hours after the Blues signed Portugal star Deco, 31, from Barcelona in a £7.9 million deal.
Chelsea's new manager Luis Felipe Scolari signed the playmaker on Monday, a day before he officially joined the workforce at Stamford Bridge.
According to The Daily Express, Lampard wanted face-to-face talks with Scolari before he made his final decision on his future as talks over a new contract at Stamford Bridge were deadlocked.
The midfielder, paid about £130,000 a week, was made an offer in May, but was looking for around £150,000 a week.
The Blues risked losing him for free next season but dilly-dallied because they wanted Scolari to take the decision.
According to sources at Stamford Bridge, Lampard was stunned when there was no telephone call from Scolari or suggestion for a meeting.
Yet, on Monday, the new Chelsea boss completed his first signing of Deco, Lampard's rival for the central midfield position.
A club source said: 'Frank was totally disillusioned by it all. If Scolari had the time to approve the Deco deal and if he really wanted Frank to be the linchpin of his team, then why did he not contact Frank?
'Frank feels completely let down by the club.'
Scolari had wanted to follow up on the Deco deal with a £10 million move for Real Madrid's Robinho.
But Scolari's best chance of landing Robinho hinges on Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United for Real.
The Spanish champions are only keen to off-load the player to free up cash to help buy Ronaldo, for whom they are ready to pay up to £70 million.
|
