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Frank Lampard
Bridge work: Petr Cech is sure he will still be Frank Lampard's team-mate despite Inter Milan's interest in the midfielder

Cech claims Lamps is staying at Chelsea

Simon Johnson
14 Jul 2008


Petr Cech today claimed Chelsea have won their bid to keep Frank Lampard at the club for next season. Although the midfielder wants to be reunited with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, his goalkeeping team-mate believes he will remain at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard is out of contract next summer and although Chelsea have offered a four-year deal worth £140,000 a week, the England international wants a further season, which Inter are prepared to give.

With talks having stalled, Chelsea are determined he sees out the last 12 months of his contract and turned down a £7.95million from the Italian champions last week.

Reports yesterday claimed Lampard had resigned himself to staying for the coming season and then leaving on a free transfer next term.

Inter haven't given up resolving the situation, but Cech is adamant Lampard will be part of new manager Luiz Felip Scolari's revolution.

Talking about Scolari's plans for next term, the Czech international told website Sport.cz said: "To be honest, I don't have much information about changes in the squad.

"Of course, I know about coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Deco and I know that Chelsea have succeeded in keeping Frank Lampard, which is extremely important."

The news will disappoint Patrick Vieira, who wants Lampard to join him at the San Siro.

The former Arsenal midfielder said: "He is a fantastic player and you want to play with players of that class."

Meanwhile, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has assured assistant manager Steve Clarke he has a long-term future at the club. Clarke has been part of the backroom staff at Chelsea for eight years, but has enjoyed a more significant role since Mourinho took over as manager in 2004.

The 44-year-old, who also played as a right-back at the club for 11 years, was unsure if he would have a position following the appointment of Scolari.

The Brazilian has brought the trusted aides he worked with while in charge of Portugal and Brazil in Carlos Pracidelli, Flavio Teixeira and Darlan Schneider to Stamford Bridge.

Clarke was considering his future earlier in the summer, but Scolari and the Chelsea hierarchy are aware of his strong relationship with the players as well as his all-round abilities.

The Scot has already agreed to stay on for this season, but Buck believes this is just the start of his working relationship with Scolari. He said: "Steve is Chelsea Football Club through and through. He has been at the club in a coaching role for a long time, even before he took the job with Mourinho.

"We have the greatest respect for Steve and he has met with Felipe a number of times. They are getting along fine and I'm optimistic that he will be an important part of Felipe's coaching staff this season and in the future." Buck is also confident that Chelsea will bounce back from failing to win a trophy for the first time in four years last season to add more silverware to the trophy cabinet.

Chelsea finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier and Champions League, but Buck added: "I'm always excited about a new season, but I'm really optimistic at how well we will do. Time will tell, but I think this will be a very successful season for the club.

"I can look back on the Champions League Final and say we almost did it. I'm very proud of what the boys did and it has given us more confidence about the future. Hopefully we will be back for the final in Rome this season."

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