Lampard committed to Blues

26 July 2012 09:17

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard wants to stay with the club and is ready to hold talks over his future.

The 34-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge with his contract due to expire next summer, and accepts negotiations over a new deal are in the club's hands but is keen to pass on his experience to the younger players.

Speaking on the squad's pre-season tour of the United States, Lampard was quoted as saying in several newspapers: "I've had a great time playing for Chelsea and I hope I can prolong it. In an ideal world I'd finish here and keep giving what I have given over the past 10 years."

He added: "I'm ready to sit down and talk to Chelsea whenever they want to but it's not the same as when you are 25. Then they come to you or you knock the door down with a couple of years to go to extend it. When you get into your thirties you accept it's not that way any more.

"Chelsea will always be my club regardless of what happens now in terms of my playing days. I'd love to be able to offer the hand of experience and just be a presence there. But, in playing terms, I do need to feel I can do it. I wouldn't be fulfilled if I wasn't."

One of the players Lampard will be hoping to help next term will be Brazil playmaker Oscar, who completed his move to the European champions from Internacional on Wednesday in a deal reported to be worth £25million.

The 20-year-old is part of Brazil's squad for the London 2012 Olympics and played in the 2-0 warm-up victory over Team GB last Friday.

Oscar, full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, is a product of the Sao Paulo youth set-up.

He left the capital for Internacional in December 2010 and has played at every level of international football from under-15 to under-20.

His Brazil debut arrived in September last year when he came on as a substitute in a 0-0 draw with Argentina, and he has scored once in six appearances. Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or winger, he is viewed as one of his country's most exciting talents.

Source: PA