JOSE MOURINHO appeared to signal defeat in his bid to land Frank Lampard last night.
Deco’s £8.3million arrival at Stamford Bridge as Big Phil Scolari’s first signing cast doubt over Lampard’s Chelsea future.
The England midfielder still has to hold face-to-face talks with the new Chelsea boss and has failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.
With his old boss Mourinho taking over at Inter Milan a move looked likely — but last night the Special One claimed it would not happen this season.
Mourinho — who has already had a £6.8m bid rejected — said: “This season? I don’t think so.
“Why won’t he? Well, it’s not because we don’t want him to, but I’m sure Chelsea and Chelsea’s officials don’t want to sell him.
“However for the next season it will be easier for him to join me at Inter.
“I’m 100 per cent sure in 2009/2010 he will be playing here.”
Lampard, 30, is calm about the situation and will continue his family holiday in Sicily regardless of developments in west London.
With one year on his contract to run, it is up to Chelsea to offer him an extension. So far, however, no talks between Chelsea and Lampard or his agent Steve Kutner have taken place.
Scolari has told Chelsea he wants to see the England midfielder in person before anything else happens. That meeting is scheduled for next Monday.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1361230.ece