Frank Lampard's agent believes the England midfielder
has become 'indispensable' to Chelsea - and any new contract should
reflect that.
Steve Kutner has admitted Lampard is aware of article 17 of Fifa's
transfer regulations, under which players can unilaterally cancel
their contracts after a `protected period' expires, if they pay
`buy-out' compensation to their clubs, based on wages.
The three-year protection period on Lampard's current five-year
deal runs out this summer, so he could theoretically leave then in
exchange for two years' wages.
However Kutner told The Independent that his client wants to sign a
new deal at Chelsea, and that as things stand, 'he's not intending
to invoke the clause [article 17]'.
He added: 'We know about the rule, and I've talked to Peter Kenyon
[Chelsea's chief executive] about what Frank's worth to Chelsea,
and what he's worth to other clubs.
