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Chelsea to focus on talks with English duo
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20 May 2007
FA Cup winners Chelsea will now turn to finalising new contracts for both captain John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard, according to chief executive Peter Kenyon.
Reports have suggested England midfielder Lampard, 28, is considering buying out the remainder of his current deal, and he has been linked with a move to Barcelona.
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Cup double: Terry (left) and Lampard celebrate with the FA Cup at Wembley after victory over Manchester United
However, both Lampard and England captain Terry, 26, have made it clear they would prefer to extend their stay at Chelsea, provided the right terms can be agreed.
Kenyon maintained now the season had ended following yesterday's 1-0 extra-time victory over Manchester United at Wembley, attentions will be on getting their key men signed up again.
"We want Frank to stay, Frank said yesterday he wants to stay and that is clearly a great benefit for getting a contract finalised," Kenyon said.
"Now the season is over, hopefully we can concentrate and get that one done pretty quickly.
"You can never be 100 per cent [certain], but the percentage goes up when both parties want the deal to be done.
"Clearly both of us do, so that is a big effort to get that one closed off - and quickly.
Kenyon added: "There are all sorts of issues and each contract is different.
"We are talking about major contracts with many issues surrounding them.
"Both parties want this to happen, and therefore you have got to believe this will happen.
"The key message from Chelsea to Frank has always been 'We want you to stay' and to be fair to Frank his has always been 'I want to stay', so that is a great position to be in.
"I think it would be settled in the near future. Frank has said he wants it sorting before next season, and we want it sorting before next season.
"For all parties, it would be the sooner the better."
Kenyon maintained both players had been "positive" in allowing their own futures to be put on the back burner while Chelsea chased honours on four fronts over the final weeks of the campaign.
"We got to the point within the season where we all like to just concentrate on football, and they both reacted very positively to that," he said.
"Now we will be concentrating on getting those contracts put to bed, and John Terry and Frank Lampard starting back with us on July 9.
"It is business as usual now, it is just a slightly different business to what we have been involved in during the last six months."
Kenyon insists the squad will not need major surgery this summer.
He added: "I doubt we will have big-name signings because I do not think we need it.
"We are in the region of moving three out and bringing three or four in. We are looking for some cover.
"We are looking for central defence, a midfield and a striker. They will be good players who can contribute to the team and the squad.
"That will give us not only the added numbers we need for the competitions, but also cover.
"We have got to bear in mind that we are losing potentially four players for the African Nations Cup in January next year, which is going to be a challenge for us."
The Chelsea chief executive also rejected suggestions Andriy Shevchenko and German international Michael Ballack would be offloaded following largely disappointing first campaigns at Stamford Bridge,
"We have brought both these players in for three or four years - we did not bring them in for a season," Kenyon insisted.
"I am confident they are going to be here as big players with Chelsea next season.
"They want to contribute a lot more, they feel they have a lot more to give. It takes time to settle in."
Kenyon added: "They are two fantastic professionals. It is an exciting prospect to see those two guys on top of their game for us next season."
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