Lampard set to leave Chelsea

Frank Lampard will not be offered a new contract at Chelsea, his agent has confirmed.

The 34-year-old, who moved to within 10 goals of becoming Chelsea’s record goalscorer at the weekend, has seen his future thrown into doubt this month, with LA Galaxy, Lazio and Manchester United thought to be keen on acquiring his services.

However, Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner said the England international was told during December’s Club World Cup that he will definitely be leaving the European Champions in the summer.

“Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season,” Kutner told The Daily Mirror.

“Nothing since has changed in any respect.

“Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves.”

Lampard has been reduced to a bit-part role this season due to injuries but his penalty in Chelsea’s 5-1 FA Cup third round victory at Southampton on Saturday was his seventh goal from 17 appearances, leaving him behind only Fernando Torres and Juan Mata in the Blues’ goalscoring charts.

He is now free to sign a pre-contract arrangement with any overseas club, while Goal.com this week exclusively revealed that the midfielder had rejected a three-year contract with Everton.