Forever Blues
Afp, London
Frank Lampard's agent insisted Monday that the Chelsea midfielder wants to stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of his career. The 28-year-old England midfielder is alleged to have turned down a contract extension that would have made him Chelsea's highest earner with wages of 131,000-pounds-a-week (264,000 dollars). But his agent, Steve Kutner, is adamant that no talks have taken place with Chelsea because Lampard and the club's chief executive Peter Kenyon have not been free to set up a meeting since the end of last season. Lampard has been linked with both Barcelona and Juventus in the last week but will join the rest of the Chelsea squad for their tour of America next week. Kutner said: "The three of us haven't had a chance to have talks. There has never been a time when the three of us have been free as Frank has been on holiday and Peter has been away. But nothing has changed. Frank has always said he wants to stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career. "He will join up with Chelsea's tour next week and will be as committed as ever. Nothing can get sorted out until he gets back, but there is no rush." Chelsea are on the brink of selling defender Geremi to Newcastle for two million pounds but are also trying to persuade Dutch winger Arjen Robben to sign a long-term extension to his current contract. Real Madrid continue to show interest in the Holland international but Robben, like Lampard, insists he wants to remain a Chelsea player. Lampard's situation is unlikely to be sorted out until next month as, after their American tour, Chelsea have friendlies at Feyenoord, Rangers and Brondby. Chelsea have signed three players on free transfers so far this summer -- Steve Sidwell, Tal Ben Haim and Claudio Pizarro -- but coach Jose Mourinho denies he has been told there is no money to spend. Mourinho told Chelsea TV: "Nobody from the board said, 'Jose you have to only bring in players on a Bosman because we have no money to spend'. "I think it is bad business if you only bring in players under the Bosman law and they are not good enough. "If the only reason you are bringing them in is because they are free, they become expensive. The point is to bring in good players."
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