Villas-Boas eyes Chelsea Lampard stay

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas brushed off talk of a falling out with midfielder Frank Lampard, and insisted that the club will do all in their power to tie the England international to a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

Only last week there had been some speculation that Lampard would look to quit Chelsea in exchange for a move elsewhere; and that the Blues would only be willing to sell the player to a club abroad.


However, Villas-Boas' latest comments seem to suggest that there is a long term future for Lampard, despite talk of an exit this year.


"We speak every day. Frank is a player who is not available at any price," said the Portuguese boss.


"First, he's not in and out in rotation. There is no such thing. We decide on an XI who are strong for any game and that can help us in the strategy to win the game.


"Every player wants to find that consistency and playing times. Frank, with the player he is and the history he represents, wants to be involved all the time, but every player is competing for a place.


"I've said the same all season, even when Frank had more playing time and others didn't. Everyone is fighting to be in it, and a player of Frank's level has a shorter distance to travel to be in the team than others."