Frank Lampard and Cristiano Ronaldo have 'no chance' of
receiving the massive pay increases they are demanding from Chelsea
and Manchester United. That is what they will be told this week by
Peter Kenyon and David Gill, the chief executives of their
clubs.
Given the value of both men to their teams - The decisions signal a
sea change in attitudes to players' wages, which, in some cases,
have spiralled to more than £100,000 a week. A senior executive at
one the Premiership's 'big four' clubs told Observer Sport last
night: 'There has been no formal discussion between clubs about
this, but when speaking generally with other executives I sense
there is certainly a feeling of "no more on player wages, otherwise
where will they stop?"
In negotiations, we now have an element where player
representatives point to the new TV deal as if it is more money for
the pot to pay player wages. That is not going to happen.' A senior
source at Old Trafford said: 'There is currently a big fight going
on between Ronaldo and United. He wants around £120,000 a week, but
the club will not go above £100,000. He will stay, but there is a
lot of trouble ahead.' The Portugal winger is thought to be on
£60,000 a week in a deal that ends in 2010.
Lampard will also be frustrated in his demands. 'He has no chance
of getting what he wants,' an insider claimed. 'He will not be
offered more than £100,000. That's final. He will have to take what
Chelsea offer, end of story.'
It is further evidence of Roman Abramovich's new stance over
Chelsea's finances. After sanctioning the £130,000... a-week wages
for summer signings Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack, the
billionaire owner refused to pay inflated fees in the January
transfer window and, with negotiations with John Terry also having
stalled, is taking a hard line over players' salaries. Lampard
signed a five-year deal in 2004, but under European Union
employment law he can buy himself out of the contract from
May.
Steve Kutner, Lampard's agent, described the Chelsea insider's
statements as 'preposterous'. 'We haven't been made an offer yet,'
said Kutner. 'But £100,000 is absolutely ridiculous because Frank
is on way more than that already. I've had discussions with Peter
[Kenyon] and we know where we want to go. Chelsea want Frank to
stay for the next five years and so do we. I certainly haven't
given the club any parameters - we are waiting.'
Lampard, 28, is thought to earn closer to £80,000 a week rather
than the £100,000-plus claimed by Kutner. And it is unlikely that
he or Ronaldo will be able to attract higher wages in Europe.
Barcelona have never been extravagant payers and Real Madrid's
galactico days are behind them. They are the only two clubs that
could feasibly top the wages paid in England.
There has been speculation that Lampard is heading for Barca in the
summer. His wife is from the region and the Catalan club were
thought to be interested. But a Barcelona executive confirmed to
Observer Sport that they will not target the midfielder. 'The club
is not interested in Lampard, no way,' he said.
