London, July 10 (ANI): England midfielder Frank Lampard last night told close friends at Chelsea: "I am finished with the club. It is time to go."
Lampard was faced with the dilemma of whether or not to hand in a transfer request as the club threatened to make him see out the last year of his contract.
Inter Milan are expected to make a second, increased bid of around 9million pounds today as they try to capitalise on the breakdown of relations between Lampard and the club.
Chelsea has adopted an uncompromising line with Lampard, who has rejected the offer of a new 140,000 pounds-a-week deal.
The Daily Express reported that the last 24 hours have made up Lampard's mind.
He has told his teammates he intends to quit the club after seven years to join Inter Milan, where he has been told he would be a great success by new Blackburn Rovers boss and former Inter star Paul Ince.
Lampard was infuriated on Tuesday by the club's claims that all was well and that he wanted to stay, with new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari caught in the crossfire in his first week in the job.
A Chelsea source said last night: "Frank sees no future at the club now. He feels totally let down."
Meanwhile, Lampard is considering walking out of Chelsea and signing for Internazionale after receiving legal advice that, despite their threats, it would be impossible for the club to hold him to the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
In what has turned into a bitter dispute over his future, Lampard's lawyers have investigated whether he should invoke the so-called "Webster Clause" - Article 17 of FIFA's rules, which effectively allow certain players to unilaterally terminate their contract with their present club. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
