Why I love Frank: he's the best I've ever worked with, says Mourinho

Jose Mourinho waded into the battle for Frank Lampard's signature on Thursday by issuing a mischievously timed tribute to the Chelsea midfielder, describing him as 'the best professional I've ever worked with'.

Inter Milan, where Mourinho is now manager, show no sign of admitting defeat in their pursuit of the England man, despite being told by both Stamford Bridge chairman Bruce Buck and chief executive Peter Kenyon that he is not for sale.

And despite speaking to Ford's FeelFootball.com debate programme in May, the ex-Chelsea boss made the tactical move of authorising his interview about Lampard to be published on Thursday.

'Frank Lampard is a different kind of person, not so extroverted,' Mourinho said. 'He's the best professional I've ever worked with. He's the player who trains better, has more concentration, more commitment and is always focused on himself.

'He is never happy about his performance, always wants to improve, and always wants to learn. If he makes a mistake in a game, the next day in training he wants to stay one more hour to practise exactly that situation.

'I remember he missed a goal once with a difficult left-foot volley and the next day he was there an hour after training practising that volley.

'Lampard is incredibly professional. God gave players the talent, and some of them waste this. But some others make themselves better and these are the kind of the players who can last forever.'

Inter will crank up the pressure with an improved bid of £10million for the England midfielder, having already had £7.9m rejected, as they try to take advantage of the contract dispute between Lampard and his club.

Chelsea were adamant on Thursday night they had not yet received Inter's latest approach but when it does arrive it is unlikely to alter their view that Lampard will not be moving this summer despite having just one year left on his current £120,000-a-week deal.

While Chelsea are unwilling to meet the player's demand for a five-year £150,000-a-week contract Lampard certainly feels he has five years left in him, even if the Stamford Bridge club are not prepared to go beyond the four-year £140,000-a-week offer on the table.

Although new boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has his hands full persuading Lampard to pledge the remainder of his career to Chelsea, that has not stopped the Brazilian turning his attention to new recruits.

As revealed by Sportsmail, Real Madrid forward Robinho is a top target and Scolari has received encouragement in the pursuit of his countryman with the Spanish champions lowering their asking price.

Real originally wanted around £35m, but after talks between Robinho's agent Wagner Ribeiro and Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen on Tuesday, that figure has dropped to nearer £29m for the 24-year-old.

Angered by Real's willingness to use him as a makeweight in any transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robinho is ready to quit despite being a regular in the starting line-up last season.