INTER MILAN president Massimo Moratti will intervene
personally in an attempt to sign Frank Lampard.
SunSport can reveal Moratti will call Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich in the next 48 hours as he tries to find a
solution to the stalemate.
One of Italy’s richest men, Moratti will attempt to
appeal to the Russian billionaire to open more friendly
negotiations between Inter and the Blues.
Whether he succeeds is another matter, however, as
Chelsea are prepared to let Frank Lampard rot in the stands rather
than sell him to Inter.
Moratti is willing to make a fresh £9million bid today,
yet Abramovich is adamant he will not allow Lamps to join former
boss Jose Mourinho.
A senior boardroom source revealed nothing will change
Red Rom’s mind.
The source said: “We’ve made our position very clear.
Lampard will not be sold and will see out the last year of his
contract at Chelsea.
“It’s up to him if he wants to do that on the pitch or
in the stands.”
Chairman Bruce Buck insists the offer of a four-year
£140,000-a-week deal is still on the table.
But Lamps, 30, has made it clear he will accept only a
five-year contract.
Buck said: “He has decided not to accept our offer but
there is one year remaining on his current contract and we expect
he will honour it.”
If Chelsea insist on forcing Lamps to stay he could
resign his contract under FIFA rules.
But because he did not give notice within two weeks of
the end of last season, he could face a heavy fine or a lengthy
ban.