Lampard bids farewell to Chelsea to reunite with Jose at Inter Milan

The arrival at Chelsea of Brazil-born midfielder Deco from Barcelona would clear the way for Kenyon to sanction the £7million sale of Lampard, currently on holiday in Italy.

Back in business: Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho

His agent Steve Kutner declined to comment yesterday on the player's imminent decision, but reports in Italy suggest he could sign a four-year deal worth more than £110,000 a week as soon as tomorrow.

The England midfielder is relaxing in Positano, near Sorrento, and Italian newspapers claimed yesterday that he would travel to Inter president Massimo Moratti's holiday home in Versilia, on the coast of Tuscany.

Lampard, 30, has long held the desire to play abroad but the death of his mother Pat in April has led to a great deal of soul-searching about whether to move away from his family.

But the prospect of working again with Mourinho, together with Chelsea's refusal to offer him more than a twoyear extension to his current contract, seems to have tipped the balance.

Lampard has been at Chelsea for seven years but it was under Mourinho that he won his only major trophies - back-to-back Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup, twice.

His departure will hinge on the arrival of Deco, who has agreed terms with Chelsea and is keen to work with new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, but Chelsea and Barcelona have yet to agree on a fee, with the Catalans holding out for £15m.

Scolari's arrival a week tomorrow should coincide with the Deco deal being completed, but Chelsea look unlikely to be able to prise away their next target, Franck Ribery, from Bayern Munich.

The France striker is understood to be happy to stay and Bayern have no intention of selling him.

Deco's departure from Spain will free up Barca to compete with AC Milan for Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb.

Adebayor is due back at training on July 9 and, with Arsenal refusing to pay the £90,000 a week he wants to stay, the Togo striker will ask to leave.

However, last night manager Arsene Wenger insisted once more that the striker will not be leaving.

He said: 'It's quite simple: he is under contract. I met him on Friday and we spoke. It was amicable - why wouldn't it be? As manager of Arsenal, I am not worried. Of course he will be at Arsenal next season.

'He seems to have been saying different things to different people.'

Adebayor was certainly giving out mixed messages on Friday when, within an hour of saying he would stay at Arsenal, he claimed he would make a decision on his future this week.

The club are prepared to double his wages to £60,000 a week, but no more, and if they receive a £30m bid, Wenger could yet decide to cash in.

The strongest candidate to replace him remains Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz, with Arsenal needing to bid at least £12m if and when Adebayor leaves.

Hleb favours a move to Bayern but also has the possibility of moving to the Nou Camp.

Having recruited Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri, Wenger would let Hleb go for £15m.

Barcelona's £10m offer for Russia star Andrei Arshavin will also affect the Premier League.

The player wants to complete the deal but if Barca's interest fades, two English clubs, believed to be Everton and Newcastle, have lodged bids with Zenit St Petersburg.

With Arshavin having impressed at Euro 2008, Zenit want more than £15m.

Tottenham are searching for a striker to replace Dimitar Berbatov, with Peter Crouch and Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko being considered. Spurs believe Berbatov will move to Manchester United if Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer saga ends with a move to Real Madrid.