Lampard ready to give up on Chelsea

The midfielder is understood to be deeply upset after a day of claim and counter-claim over his future at Chelsea.

Lampard feels his loyalty and success during seven trophy-laden seasons at Stamford Bridge merits a new five-year contract.

Sadly for him, that view is not shared by chief executive Peter Kenyon or, most importantly, by owner Roman Abramovich.

The England player recently turned 30 and club officials are only prepared to offer him a four-year deal.

Lampard met with Kenyon yesterday morning and left the meeting feeling his future was no closer to being sorted out.

Luiz Felipe Scolari then held his first press conference as manager and insisted the player had told him he wanted to stay. Lampard's agent, Steve Kutner, later issued a statement stating the position was still "completely unresolved" before the midfielder confronted Kenyon at the club's Cobham training ground seeking an explanation for the new manager's comments.

Waiting in the background was former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, now in charge of Inter. The Italians upped their bid for Lampard last night to £7.95million after having an initial approach rejected by Chelsea. Inter's offer is for a similar four-year term but has the option of going on for another season if they win the Champions League during that time.

If no agreement is reached, Chelsea are prepared to let Lampard's contract - which has one more season to go - run down before letting him go on a free transfer.

A staunch family man, Lampard wants to stay near to his father, Frank, following the death of his mother, Pat, earlier this year. The Romford-born player has a deep affection for Chelsea and their supporters and he would prefer an amicable solution. But he may now decide it is time to test his ability on the continent.

The only hope now is if Scolari pushes the Chelsea board to give his player what he wants. The pair have spoken amicably and the Brazilian insisted yesterday the midfielder would be his vice-captain next season. "I like him as a player and as a person," said Scolari. "He said to me I want to stay. I said okay. I am happy you stay with us. Now it's a business conversation for Lampard and the club. Money is not my business. My work is done."

Scolari also denied that Portugal international Deco had joined Chelsea as a replacement for Lampard.

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