Jose Mourinho will make a £30million move for Chelsea star Frank
Lampard if, as expected, the Portuguese becomes Real Madrid manager
next month.
Today Lampard can help Chelsea towards the Premier League title,
a mission which could be complete by this evening if Carlo
Ancelotti's team beat Liverpool at Anfield and championship rivals
Manchester United later lose at Sunderland.
But with Chelsea closing on the Double - they meet Portsmouth in
the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 13 days' time - Lampard will become
a target for Mourinho, who is already regarded in Spain as Real's
next manager.
On a mission: Frank Lampard could help Chelsea
secure the title today
A close source told The Mail on Sunday: 'Mourinho has always
loved Frank, who would have to think long and hard if he was asked
to sign for him at Real Madrid.
'Frank's phenomenal scoring record from midfield would have to
be attractive to Real. 'This would be the one move Frank might find
too tempting to ignore. In many ways, it would be a great way for
him to finish his career after the World Cup this summer.'
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and manager Ancelotti would
surely resist Lampard's exit, so integral has he been to Chelsea's
rise in the past seven years.
Blues brothers: Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho at
Chelsea
But if the club are serious about living within their means,
then a bid of around £30m for a 31-year-old would be difficult to
resist - and it would provide funds to buy the £40m-rated
Argentine, Kun Aguero, from Atletico Madrid.
Mourinho is almost certain to be installed as Real's new boss
once he has completed his Champions League odyssey with Inter Milan
in the final against Bayern Munich in Real's Bernabeu Stadium on
May 22.
Two years ago, Mourinho tried but failed to lure Lampard to
Milan. While Lampard pledged his allegiance to Chelsea by signing a
five-year contract, estimated to be worth £39m in August 2008, a
summons to renew his partnership with Mourinho at the world's most
prestigious club - and in the company of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo
- would be hard to resist.