Kenyon keen to keep Chelsea duo - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Kenyon keen to keep Chelsea duo

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has reiterated his club's desire to hang onto Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba despite fresh reports linking the pair with moves away from Stamford Bridge.

Kenyon has been unsuccessful in his attempts to convince Lampard to sign an extension to his existing deal which runs out in one year's time, while Drogba's future is also very much in the balance.

Kenyon told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: "Frank has made the comments that he wants to stay. We've both decided we'll put it behind us until the end of the season. Again Didier has come out and said that he was misquoted and we're not going to talk about that. Didier has got two years left on his contract and there is no reason why he shouldn't remain a Chelsea player."

Meanwhile Kenyon has refused to rule out further big-money transfer deals despite this week's claims that the club is on course to break even by the end of 2010.

Owner Roman Abramovich drastically reduced the club's transfer outlay over the previous 12 months, leading to suggestions that the days of eight-figure transfer deals were over.

But Kenyon added: "I don't think they're over but in our first year we went £128million and in these accounts we've spent net £11million. We made a huge investment initially in order to become successful.

"We want to remain successful so you'll still see us in the transfer market but we want to supplement that with our academy and developing younger players. By 2009 or 2010 that is when our first crop of players will come through.

"But if there is a player out there and he's a quality player and he will add to what we've got, Chelsea will be in the market."

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