Italian club Napoli have been linked with a shock move for outgoing Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign and it’s widely anticipated that he will move to the United States with LA Galaxy touted as a likely destination for Lampard, but Napoli are set to approach Lampard according to the Express.
Lampard is currently chasing an all-time goal scorer record at Stamford Bridge and needs just three goals to better Bobby Tambling’s total, so the veteran is set to leave the club on a personal high and will hope to add a few more medals to his tally before his time in West London is over.
The England midfielder could be tempted to remain in Europe especially as Napoli are sitting in second place in Serie A and looking in good shape to make next season’s Champions League.
It had also been rumoured recently that Jose Mourinho may try to convince Lampard to stay should the Real Madrid manager take over at Stamford Bridge in the summer, but this could be unlikely considering the player’s wage demands and the fact he’s previously stated that he has no interest in seeing his playing days out on the bench.
Lampard has won it all at Chelsea, the Champions League, Premier League (3), FA Cup (4), Carling Cup (2), Community Shield (2) and he may add another FA Cup and Europa League title to that haul. He’ll leave Chelsea a legend whether he breaks Tambling’s record or not, but status is the only thing that will remain as the club is moving forward and he is no longer as integral a part as he once was as the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar bid to take centre stage.
LA Galaxy seems to me the most likely destination, if he doesn’t sign a new deal at Chelsea. Fiancee Christine Bleakely is more likely to be persuaded to have a try at a career in US media than in Italy.