SOCCER:Frank Lampard has reiterated his desire to remain at Chelsea beyond the end of his current contract, despite postponing talks over a new deal until the end of the season, with the England midfielder convinced he would not get the same "love" from any other club's fans.
The 29-year-old has 18 months to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge and, despite the Premier League club indicating a willingness to negotiate a new deal earlier in the season, took the decision to delay further talks until the end of the campaign.
That had prompted suggestions he might follow Jose Mourinho out of the club, particularly given tentative interest from European clubs of real pedigree in Italy and Spain.
"I want to stay at this club for the rest of my career," said Lampard, who will miss tomorrow's FA Cup third-round tie against Queen's Park Rangers as he continues his rehabilitation from a thigh injury sustained in the 4-4 St Stephen's Day draw with Aston Villa.
"I do not think I would receive the love I get from the Chelsea fans anywhere else. I would love another six or seven years of it.
"On a scale of one to 10, Chelsea is a 10 for me in terms of importance. Everyone around me knows how much Chelsea means to me. In my life my family comes first but Chelsea comes second. I'm at a club I love and living in an area I love. Nothing has changed since the club and I decided that we wouldn't talk until the end of the season. But I don't want the fans to think there is anything sinister about it because I'm desperate to get it done."
Chelsea remain optimistic about adding to their squad during the January transfer window, with the 23-year-old Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic expected to complete a €13.4-million move from Lokomotiv Moscow next week. Progress has been slow on Nicolas Anelka's prospective move from Bolton Wanderers, though the London club are still optimistic they can prise him away from the Reebok.
Other possible forwards are being monitored - including Reading's Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle and Benni McCarthy at Blackburn Rovers - with the manager Avram Grant expected to spend heavily to replenish his squad.
Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson has been given encouraging news about the rehabilitation of two of Manchester United's more experienced players, Paul Scholes revealing he is ahead of schedule and Gary Neville declaring himself fit for tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Aston Villa - even if he does not expect to play.
Scholes, who damaged knee ligaments in October, has been given the medical go-ahead to step up his fitness programme and is aiming to be back at the end of this month, having initially believed mid-February was a more realistic target.
"I've started running now," he said. "I've got these next few weeks to get as fit as I can so hopefully I'll be fresh when I come back. It's a couple of months since the operation now and everything seems to be okay."
Neville has not played since March because of recurrent ankle and thigh problems but the defender said he had hoped to play some part of the holiday programme.
"I'd say I'm close as I've trained with the team for two-and-a-half weeks now and I felt like I could have been involved against Birmingham City on New Year's Day. What's going against me is the fact I haven't played football for 10 months. And I think it could be difficult for me to get a match. The lads have some momentum going now, they've defended well and Wes has done extremely well at right-back.
"There aren't many opportunities for the manager to throw me into the side . . . We have important league and FA Cup matches now and it would probably be a risk to play me in since I haven't been on the pitch for 10 months."
