Lampard decides to leave Chelsea

The rift between Lampard and Chelsea has widened after his request for a new contract was turned down again. The 30-year-old midfielder was looking for a five-year deal as a reward for seven highly successful seasons at Stamford Bridge but the Premier League runners-up are unwilling to go beyond a four-year package.

Now Lampard, who has been trying to negotiate new terms for the past two seasons without success, wants to join up with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

However, Chelsea have refused to negotiate with Inter despite a firm offer from the Serie A club of almost £8 million and Peter Kenyon insisted today that the midfielder will see out the remainder of his contract.

Chelsea's new manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, said in his first press conference yesterday that he expects Lampard to stay.

But sources close to the England midfielder insist that he and his representatives have had little success trying to broker a deal with Chelsea chief executive Kenyon.

At the heart of the problem is the length of the contract. Lampard, who has been at the club for seven years and scored 110 goals in 339 appearances, feels that he deserves a five-year deal.

Even as recently as a week ago, he would have been happy to stay had Chelsea been willing to say yes to the extra year but again the two sides could not agree.

Scolari's comments further exacerbated the situation and Lampard immediately sought clarification afterwards from Kenyon while Lampard's agent, Steve Kutner, later issued a statement saying the player's future was 'completely unresolved.'

Now Lampard, who has consistently said that he wants to stay at the club and has a deep affection for its fans, particularly in the wake of his mother Pat's death earlier this year, feels he has been treated unfairly on a point of principle and believes the only solution is to leave.

However, that may not prove to be quite as straightforward as it seems. Kenyon said today: "The situation is ongoing. We have always maintained we want Frank to stay and an offer was made to that effect. That offer is still on the table. Frank is under contract and has one year to run on that. We'd like to hope we can reach an agreement but if we can't we have always worked on the basis that Frank sees out the terms of his contract.

"Chelsea has made its position very clear to Inter and they have come back now with a financial offer. That will be rejected. Contrary to what you may have read it is totally untrue that Luiz Felipe Scolari was pushing the club or putting pressure on us to change the offer to Frank. At no stage was he ever in conflict with the club's position or asked the board or the owner to change the offer."

It seems apparent that the relationship between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Mourinho has deteriorated to the extent that the billionaire will block Lampard's route to Inter at all costs.

Inter's offer, meanwhile, is for a similar four-year term but includes the option of another season if they win the Champions League during that time.

The arrival of Deco from Barcelona could also have a bearing on Lampard's future, though Scolari denied he was brought in as a direct replacement for a player he expected to leave.

"It's not true," said Scolari. "I never bring Deco for Lampard. I want good players for all positions. They can play together, they have different qualities.

"He said to me he wants to stay. I said 'OK. I am happy you stay with us. The time is not important for me but I want you here and happy'.

"Now it's a business conversation for Lampard and the club. He has one year minimum with us. Money is not my business. I want him to stay but my work is done. I voiced my opinion now it's down to other people."

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell for a fee thought to be around £5million. The deal is subject to Sidwell passing a medical.