Will John Terry and Frank Lampard sign contract extensions at Chelsea this summer?
Chelsea Jose Mourinho has revealed that he is calm about veteran trio John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard entering the final months of their contract.
All three players could start discussions deal with other clubs in January, as they will only have six months left on their contract by then.
Calm
On the issue of the trio’s contracts expiring Mourinho told Sky Sports: “It doesn’t worry me, doesn’t worry the club and, I think, doesn’t worry the players.
“Their desire to play for this club, nobody has doubts about it. We want them to feel free to express and to enjoy these last years of their careers.
“Everything is very calm (and) at the end of the season, probably before that, the club will sit with them, the offer will be on the table.”
Favourites
All three players were vital in Mourinho’s trophy-laden first stint as Chelsea boss and are regarded as favourites of the Portuguese boss. However, in his second stint the trio seem to be slightly less influential, largely due to the years catching up with them.
Captain John Terry has been a mainstay of the Blues team this season, but it looks like the years are now taking a toll on the centre-back, as Chelsea have conceded a worrying amount of goals. He is not the all-conquering hero he used to be.
Due to his advancing years you would think that Frank Lampard would be playing fewer games than in previous seasons, but he has started 11 games in the Premier League this season and made 4 substitute appearances.
The England international played fewer games for the Blues last season, but still managed to become the clubs record goalscorer. His role in the Blues team has slightly changed, especially this season.
Lampard is a Mourinho favourite just like Terry, but at 35 he cannot be in Mourinho’s long-term planning. The likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs may have played into their late thirties, early forties, but that is pretty rare for outfield players these days.
Ashley Cole has also been a mainstay of the Chelsea team since his arrival from Arsenal in 2006. The England international has won every trophy there is to win in the club game with the Blues. However, at the moment he seems to have been frozen out of the Blues starting line-up, because of poor form earlier in the season.
The 32-year-old has made nine appearances for the Blues in the Premier League, but right-back Cesar Azpilicueta has replaced the former-Arsenal star for the last five league games.
It seems like a strange one for the Spaniard to be playing out-of-position in Cole’s stead, but Mourinho has persisted with it and the move has left Cole’s future in doubt.
Deals
It seems like Mourinho wants the trio to stay and they will be offered contract extensions in the summer. Those contracts are likely to be short-term in their nature. The trio are likely to be offered one or two year deals.
Staying
I can see John Terry signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge in the summer. The other two I am not so sure about. Both Lampard and Cole have been linked with lucrative moves to the USA’s MLS. The pair are also likely to have a host of offers from elsewhere in the summer.
If Cole remains out of the starting line-up, then he is more likely to want to move on and there has been speculation that the veteran full-back could move on during the January transfer window, with the World Cup in Brazil looming in June.
I doubt that Lampard will be moving anyway in January, but the summer is a different matter. A move to the MLS may appeal to the midfielder, but staying at Chelsea may have even more appeal for the former-West Ham ace.
Something
I do not think many Chelsea fans would complain if all three players signed new deals in the summer. All three still have something to offer the team, as Jose Mourinho once again attempts to build a team that can dominate the Premier League.
Will all three out of contract Chelsea players sign new deals at Stamford Bridge?
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