CHELSEA have issued take it or leave it deals to Frank
Lampard, John Terry and Arjen Robben. And it means the Blues trio
will be on less money than Andriy Shevchenko and Michael
Ballack.
Owner Roman Abramovich has declared no one will be paid more than
Sheva and Ballack who earn £121,000 a week. And even though
Lampard, Terry and Robben have all been central to the success
Chelsea have achieved in the past three seasons, none has even been
offered the same deal as the two newcomers.
Robben is the latest player to see a new contract on the table but
has been told there will be no negotiations. The Holland winger has
been offered a new four-year agreement worth £84,000 a week. Winger
Robben is currently on £62,000 per week and, like Lamps and Terry,
has two years left on his contract.
Chelsea skipper Terry has been been offered a deal worth £115,000 a
week, which he has refused. Vice-captain Lampard has also rejected
his offer. Lampard and Terry feel aggrieved they have not been
rewarded with at least the same contract as Shevchenko and Ballack,
who have yet to win a championship at the club.
Robben, 23, has been attracting interest from Bayern Munich and
Barcelona and could feasibly resign from his contract after the FA
Cup final having completed three years of it. Midfielder Lamps, 28,
is in a similar position. Centre-half Terry, 26, is also bemused by
the way the club are treating him and his situation has led to an
enquiry by Italian giants AC Milan.
Chelsea now face the daunting prospect of losing three of their
most influential stars unless they soften their stance.
