[funkdoctorspock]

It seems Italy will have to stock up on extra foods as Inter Milan has declared an interest and possible agreed deal for one Frank Lampard.

He has one year left on his contract and no deal in sight.

Italy, start eating now. I repeat, start eating now!!!

Frank Lampard could play his last game for Chelsea in the Champions League final against Manchester United tomorrow after Internazionale stepped up their efforts to sign the midfielder yesterday. The Italian champions have identified Chelsea's contract refusenik as one of their prime targets for next season's rebuilding programme.

Last night Chelsea strenuously denied reports that a deal for Lampard had already been struck by the club's owner, Roman Abramovich, himself with the Internazionale owner, Massimo Moratti. But Moratti's pursuit of Lampard has become an open secret in Italy after he spoke extensively about the club's plans yesterday after their capture of a third consecutive Serie A title on Sunday.

Lampard turns 30 next month and, with just one year left on his existing deal, is still holding out on signing a new four-year contract that has been on the table for much of this season. The wages would bring him in line with the club's highest earners – John Terry, Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko – on around £120,000 a week, but Lampard has told the club he would like a five-year deal.

With the club in no mood to budge on the figures or the timespan of the contract – they see it as a take-it-or-leave-it offer – and Lampard still dealing with the death of his mother, Pat, last month, an impasse has been reached. Inter believe they can do the deal for around £11m while Chelsea have insisted that they value the England midfielder much more highly. If the club want to begin a bidding war, however, they will have to discount Barcelona. The Spanish club have indicated that, despite agreeing to release Ronaldinho and Deco, they are not in the market for Lampard.

Chelsea regard the information coming from Milan as unhelpful, to say the least, just one day away from the biggest game in their club's history. Lampard's agent, Steve Kutner, said yesterday no agreement had been reached and that the player would make a decision on his future after his summer holiday. Chelsea have been linked with Roberto Mancini, who has said he will leave Inter this summer, as a potential replacement for Chelsea's manager, Avram Grant. Lampard's former manager Jose Mourinho is a leading contender for the Inter job.

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Inter aim to turn Moscow into Lampard's Chelsea swansong - European, Football - The Independent

[mark08]

well wid mourniho possibly goin there it makes sense i guess for lampard to head there as welll.

wouldnt be surprised drogba went and drogba upfront wid zlatan would be some partnership!