Chelsea chairman believes Lampard could still stay

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck believes there is still a chance unsettled midfielder Frank Lampard will sign a new deal with the Premier League club.

Lampard is reported to be refusing to accept Chelsea’s four-year contract offer because he wants a five-year deal.

Inter Milan are keen to take advantage of the situation by luring Lampard to the San Siro and have already had two bids rejected for the England midfielder.

With Lampard unhappy that Chelsea won’t meet his demands, the Italian champions are expected to try to force the issue with a 10 million pounds (12.5 million euros) offer this week.

But Buck confirmed the club’s offer of a contract extension remains on the table and he is convinced Lampard, who has only a year to run on his current deal, could still stay.

He told Chelsea TV: “We would like Frank Lampard to stay at Chelsea for the long-term. We have offered him what we believe to be a very good new contract.

“As is his right he has decided at the moment not to accept that contract – but there is one year remaining on his current contract and we expect and hope he will honour that contract.

“Even for the course of that year there is still the opportunity for him to complete a new contract because the offer we have made him remains on the table.”