Unfortunately, it now seems almost certain that Frank Lampard will leave Chelsea and rejoin his favourite manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan. The only question left to be asked is how it has come to this?

How can someone considered to be one of the best goal-scoring central midfielders in the world be allowed to go into the last year of his contract, with no real sign of him signing another one? It is clearly a nightmare situation especially for new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

I am sure that Chelsea have been trying their hardest to get him to sign, but this will be Frank's last big contract, and more importantly than that, his last chance of playing abroad. So the terms have to be just right for him to stay if he is to pass up the opportunity to play in Italy.

There are only a handful of English players who could go abroad and not only be a success on the pitch but embrace the new lifestyle, culture and language off it. Frank is definitely one of them.

My own experience abroad with Benfica was wonderful and gave me some of the most rewarding times of life.

In Portugal, the weather and the food were so appealing that it helped me settle in quickly. The people were great as well. Very passionate about their football, just like the Italians, and if you're a hit over there, then there's not a better feeling than being a success in a foreign country.

If he goes, Frank will realise that learning the language is so so important and, although I wasn't 100 per cent fluent, the people appreciated the fact that I was trying. Frank would have to do the same.

The only negative aspect of my time at the Stadium of Light was that I had to leave Stamford Bridge to get there!

Frank will have the same feelings. Chelsea has been part of his life for the past seven years and have almost become family to him. He will also have to weigh up what a move abroad will do for his England career. He will be taking a risk. Out of sight is not quite out of mind, but it can take time for a foreigner to settle in.

Gareth Barry's move to Liverpool is about to be completed and there is no doubting he has struck up an understanding with Steven Gerrard when playing for England. If he plays well for Liverpool immediately and Frank is adjusting to life in Italy, then I can see Fabio Capello keeping Barry in the England side, possibly at the expense of Lampard.

Some Chelsea fans I've spoken to have said that they would be quite happy to let him stay for another year, even if that means he goes for nothing on a Bosman free next season. Chief Executive Peter Kenyon's statement today that the club expect Lampard to see out his current deal suggests this could still happen.

But Scolari has to do what is right for the team even if Kenyon and Roman Abramovich are loathe to see Lampard link up with Mourinho again.

Do Chelsea write off £10million plus, or do they keep him for another year thinking that his goals from midfield could lead them to the Premier League and/or the Champions League? And would Scolari want all the speculation about Frank's future disrupting team harmony?

I don't see another midfielder in the world who could come in and replace Frank. A top foreigner might take a bit of time to settle and it would be too big an ask for someone to replicate what the England midfielder has achieved.

We are talking about a guy who consistently hits the 20 goal-a-season mark.

Not only that, in his time at Chelsea, he's very rarely got injured playing up to 60 games a season. That means he not only gets the goals, but also controls games and makes assists for almost every match in the Blues calendar.

But as it stands, Chelsea's midfield is overloaded with talent. Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Deco, Joe Cole and Claude Makelele are players that would have to be on the team sheet. There are also Jon Obi Mikel, Shaun Wright-Philips, Florent Malouda, Salomon Kalou who are on the fringes plus, of course, there could be even more players coming in.

Scolari likes the 4-2-3-1 formation. Ballack, Deco and Lampard would seem almost invincible but where would you put Joe Cole?

However, the Blues without Lampard would be a strange thing. Along with John Terry, he has been Mr Chelsea and he has been a major reason why the club are one of the top sides in the world. I would love him to stay. I just don't see it.