Scolari: Lamps is staying at Chelsea

The club released a statement this morning revealing they had received an official approach from Inter Milan for the midfielder, but had turned it down flat.

And the Brazilian, speaking at his first press conference since taking over at Chelsea, insisted there was no chance of Lampard heading to Italy.

"I met Frank Lampard yesterday, we spoke for 15 minutes, and I told him that I like him too much as a player, as a person, and I ask him if he wants to stay with Chelsea, not only this season but more time," said Scolari. "He said to me that he wants to stay and he wants to play for Chelsea for many years.

"I was very happy because I think Chelsea needs Lampard and Lampard needs Chelsea. There are minimum questions to solve this, and I think Lampard will be here more than one year."

Scolari revealed he also had a "good conversation" with Didier Drogba, who is a target for both Milan clubs and insisted: "He is not 100 per cent part of my plans, but 200 per cent."

Lampard has only 12 months left on his contract and talks about a new one have stalled. Former manager Jose Mourinho is keen to work with the 30-year-old again at Inter but Scolari issued a firm hands-off warning after spending his second day in pre-season training. Chelsea's earlier statement had also made it clear to the Italians that Lampard was staying.

It read: "Chelsea have informed Inter this morning we will not enter into any discussion regarding the transfer of Frank Lampard."

Chelsea claimed Inter had not made a firm bid for Lampard although, the Italians later insisted they had. Mourinho said last week he felt Lampard would stay at Stamford Bridge for the coming season but was "100 per cent" certain he would move to Milan in 2009.

The player is seeking a substantial pay-rise from chief executive Peter Kenyon but has, so far, not received a better offer. He may now choose to run his contract down and join Inter for nothing next summer on a Bosman free.

Regardless of whether Lampard and Drogba stay, Scolari has set his sights high. He said: "I know the pressure to win every game.

"We have a pressure and I know how to manage it because in Brazil they eat football, they sleep football. I think we have the potential to win all competitions that we have entered."

When asked if he was the Special One - a tag Mourinho gave himself - Scolari said: "I am special for my friends and family and those people only."