'No circumstances' that Chelsea will offer Frank Lampard new contract - agent

Midfielder's current deal runs out in the summer

Frank Lampard will not be offered a new contract with Chelsea under any circumstances, according to the midfielder's agent.

The 34-year-old has widely been expected to leave the club he joined back in 2001 at the end of the season, and agent Steve Kutner claims the Blues hierarchy have confirmed that to the player.

He told the Daily Mirror: "Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.

"Nothing since has changed in any respect.

"Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves."

Reports over the weekend suggested Chelsea may be interested in keeping the player after all and that Lampard had offered to take a hefty pay cut to stay at the club.

Fans made their feelings clear on Saturday as they chanted "sign him up" when Lampard came off the bench in Chelsea's 5-1 FA Cup win at Southampton.

PA