Frank Lampard fancies Italy move but is faced with halving his wages

Gazzetta dello Sport have repeated in print their website claim about Frank Lampard's agents contacting both Lazio and Inter Milanto tell the clubs that the midfielder is keen to discuss a move to them. His contract runs out at the end of the current season and he is entitled to speak to teams in other countries, negotiate and even sign a deal to start when his current one with Chelsea ends. If Gazzetta are correct then he's wasted no time and his team of representatives are already on the case. Chelsea haven't offered Lampard a renewal but it may have more to do with his perceived power at the club and with the English media than it has to do with how he can still perform on the pitch. Previous manager Andre Villas Boas received widespread criticism when he dropped Lampard and it was certainly something which hastened his demise, stories appeared about how Lampard was unhappyand bemused with the situation. Rumours ofan unlikely move to Manchester United appeared then and have again now and perhaps Ambramovich just wants a managerto be able to make changes without them being treated with fury by those firmly in camp Lampard and family. Gazzetta paint Inter Milan as the most likely Italian club but say that even though the clubwould be interested in a deal, Lampard needs to be realistic about the money he willreceive. As opposed to the € 7m he's currently receiving, GdS claim that any offer Inter Milan made would be likely to be less than half of that including bonuses. They don't see themselves as a lucrative retirement home and won't spend big buckson a player who isn't going to be driving them forward for several years. They already have a high earner problem with Sneijder and don't want another with Lampard, plus an extra media circus. So whilst a couple of years in Serie A may prove attractive for Frank Lampard, club's are simply not prepared to finance a big dealfor the 35 year old. This could mean that the midfielder needs to re-assess his priorities, ifhe's moving for football then his wages will need to tumble hugely and if it's for a last big contract then his options are probably shortened to the English clubs and those from lesser, but lucrative, leagues.