Inter Milan step up Lampard pursuit
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Frank Lampard could play his last game for Chelsea 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 Roman Abramovich 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 for the future.
Lampard (29) has just one year left on his existing deal but 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 Lampard much more highly.
Chelsea have been linked with Roberto Mancini, who has said he will leave Inter this summer, while Jose Mourinho is a leading contender for the Inter job.
Lubos Michel, who allowed Luis Garcia's infamous "ghost goal" in the semi-final defeat by Liverpool three years ago, will referee tomorrow's final.
- Sam Wallace
