Lampard won´t discuss future with out-of-contract players until January

Frank Lampard has no plans to discuss the respective futures of Olivier Giroud, Willian and Pedro before January as the trio prepare to enter the final six months of their Chelsea contracts.

Having had their transfer and registration embargo ended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Chelsea are free to sign new players in January and look set to be active.

Many expected this season to be tough for the Blues given their inability to bring in new recruits in pre-season, but they have surpassed expectations under Lampard and are fourth after 16 matches.

Supporters’ outlooks might become more ambitious following the embargo’s end, with several areas of Chelsea’s squad seemingly in need of reinforcements.

While that could see some of the club’s more experienced campaigners shown the door, Lampard insists no such decisions will be made until next month when the transfer window reopens.

Asked if he had spoken to Giroud about his future, Lampard said: “No. All the players that are here, I won’t have any talk about January until we get to January. Everybody.

“I am happy for him to stay, as with every player in the squad. I want them to be here for Chelsea, have the right professionalism and right desire to be here.

“He has shown me that in his training every day this season. That’s what I am happy with.”

On the subject of Willian and Pedro entering the final months of their deals, Lampard added: “It is always an issue for the club as well as myself.

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“I obviously, as the manager, have full conversations upstairs. There’s a money side and a playing side, so I want players who want to be here and perform well for us.

“I think they both have done that over their careers here. So, that’s simple from my point of view. I want good players here.”

One player heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in January is Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake.

The Dutch defender joined Bournemouth – who visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday – from the Blues in 2017, but Chelsea retained a buy-back clause reportedly worth £40million in the deal.

Lampard seemed unmoved by the significance of the clause, though he acknowledged they should look to bring new players in if they can.

He added: “I don’t know how clever it [the buy-back clause] is – it is what it is.

“Nathan came through here and, when he has gone to Bournemouth to be able to play regular football, I think he has done fantastically well. He has shown himself as a really good defender in the Premier League.

“In terms of the back four and with the defence I have, I am very happy. Again, it [signings] won’t be anything I consider until I feel otherwise, and at the minute, we can do no business.

“I am happy with the squad, but we have to improve if we can. It is not just my business; in the modern day, since I have been in management and at most clubs, it is a joint-effort. I can put forward a lot and we will work together.

“I will recommend players that can improve us, fit with the style and the way we want to go and come in really hungry. I want people who come here wanting to win and to be a Chelsea player.”