The art of the box-to-box central midfielder is certainly a dying art in football. An all action midfielder that marshals the centre of the park and make vital tackles. In addition often carries a serious goal threat when he bombards up the pitch. The most poignant of this type of player is Frank Lampard. A man who has been at the top of profession since he joined Chelsea for £11m in 2001. A man who has scored 198 goals for Chelsea in those 12 years. That is a phenomenal return for even the most prolific of strikers, and this is a man who plays in midfield. He is just 4 goals away from breaking Chelsea's all-time goal scoring record. He has scored over 10 league goals in each of the last 12 seasons. He holds the Premier League record for most consecutive games played by an outfield player. He has 94 caps for his country and has scored 27 goals, again, all from central midfield. Chelsea are willing to let this man leave the club for FREE! It is surely ridiculous to even suggest letting this man go at all, never mind for nothing. Apparently enigmatic Blues owner Roman Abramovic has other plans, and it may well isolate him from the supporters of the club he runs.
Lampard's influence to Chelsea since his arrival is unquestionable so it must be considered what is going through the minds of the hierarchy to make them believe it makes more business sense to let Lampard leave than offer him a new contract. With Chelsea having spent £21m just on compensation for various managers since the arrival of Abramovic in 2003 it is surely ludicrous the club can not find the funds or space in their squad for a player who is considered by many to be the best player to pull on the blue jersey of Chelsea. If it is the case that Chelsea are prepared to let Lampard leave for nothing in the summer, there will no shortage of offers for the 34 year old. Rumours are flying around that mega-money moves to either the United States' MLS or the Chinese Super League are the most likely destination but surely top flight European teams would consider a move?
Whatever happens with Lampard at Chelsea he will still be considered an icon for the Blues. He is a dying breed of footballer. He is a footballer who leaves everything out on the pitch and who commands respect from not only his own teammates but from everyone who he encounters. Manchester United are the proof that retaining club legends can be a masterstroke. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are the prime examples as to how players can often defy Father Time and continue to produce magical performances well into their late 30s. Chelsea should surely be offering Lampard at least a one-year extension onto his current deal. In truth they should be offering him whatever he desires to keep him in West London, but with such enigmatic leadership in place at Stamford Bridge, the odds are that Lampard will be plying his trade in another part of the world come August.
MJ.
