Frank Lampard set to leave Chelsea this summer

England midfielder Frank Lampard is set to leave Chelsea this summer after 13 trophy-laden years

England international midfielder Frank Lampard will leave Chelsea this summer after 13 years with the Blues.

The 35-year-old is out-of-contract at Stamford Bridge this summer and has decided to leave the club.

Confirmed

Lampard confirmed his exit with a long statement. Here is a snippet from that statement: “I feel honoured to have shared so many special times with you. Bolton, Amsterdam, Munich, the list goes on and on. I, and we as a team, could not have achieved those moments without your support.

“Whatever the next challenge is for me I will always be amongst you and have Chelsea in my home and in my heart. Hopefully I will get to see you all soon to say goodbye properly. In the meantime thank you for the memories and keep making history!”

Legend

Lampard is a true Chelsea legend. The veteran midfielder is the clubs all-time leading scorer with 211 goals, which is incredible considering he is a midfielder. His commitment, hard work and goals helped Chelsea become what they are today.

Lampard has helped the Blues win the Premier League on three occasions, FA Cup four times and of course the Champions League, amongst other trophies.

Outstanding Professional

Throughout his career Lampard has been an outstanding professional, seemingly conducting himself in the correct manner both on and off the field. By all accounts he trains hard and also works hard on the pitch. There are very few professionals in the English game that come close to the midfielder for professionalism.

Next Move

With the Chelsea chapter of his life now coming to an end the midfielder is now considering his next move. The veteran star reportedly held talks with new MLS franchise New York City FC over the weekend, but they were believed to be just informal talks.

The new franchise does not begin their MLS campaign until March 2015, so if he did join the American outfit he is likely to move to a European club on-loan until the US season begins.

New York City FC is actually part-owned by Premier League champions Manchester City, which could mean Lampard spending much of next season on-loan with the Citizens. However, Lampard is believed to have a lot of options this summer.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp is Lampard’s uncle and is believed to be interested in bringing the midfielder to Loftus Road, with the Hoops set to return to the top-flight after a year in the Championship.

However, Lampard has already seemingly dismissed the ideal of signing for uncle ‘arry and looks instead set for that move across the Atlantic to join the new franchise, who have just signed Spanish striker David Villa as their first player.

World Cup

Before considering his next move Lampard will be at the World Cup with the England squad, with the Three Lions odds of 28/1 to claim the famous trophy in Brazil. Lampard is unlikely to figure much in the England starting-up, but he could come on late in the game to have an impact, whether that is to slow the game down or to attempt to find a goal.

Lampard has never quite found his domestic form in a Three Lions shirt, largely due to himself and other star midfielder Steven Gerrard not being able to play together in central midfield.

Something Left

Some reports suggest that Frank Lampard could retire from football after the World Cup, which would be a major loss to football. The midfielder still has something to give to the game and surely has a few seasons left in him, even if it is not in a major European league.

With such a high-profile player as David Villa already signed, Frank Lampard signing as well would be a major coup for MLS newcomers and the league in general.

Right Time

Wherever Frank Lampard ends up this summer, he will always be a hero to the Chelsea faithful. He has maybe chosen the right time to go out, as he is now in the twilight of his career. Whatever he does in the future he deserves credit for an incredible career for Chelsea.

Maybe one last hurrah in the MLS is just what he needs. He was obviously not going to play regular first team football at Chelsea next season and I am sure the lifestyle in New York could prove an attraction.

If Lampard does move to MLS, there is sure to be a whole host of English football fans tuning in and wishing him well. Good luck Frank.

Will Frank Lampard’s next move be to the MLS?