Chelsea may be in the midst of a
tough period on the field, but they are closing in on wrapping up
new deals with Frank Lampard, John Terry and Michael Essien.
The Blues have been peerless for the last couple of seasons, but
defeat at Anfield on Saturday showed they are no longer head and
shoulders above the opposition.
Manager Jose Mourinho has also found life tough as he attempts to
strengthen his squad in the January transfer window, but the club
are making moves to tie down their key players to long-term
deals.
Lampard, Terry and Essien are three of Mourinho's 'unthouchables'
and they could soon be celebrating new contracts.
"These deals have been spoken about for some time and negotiations
are in very advanced positions," Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon
told the News of the World.
"It's true to say we are progressing very well on that and we are
very close to finalising everything."
Commenting on England midfielder Lampard's position, Kenyon added:
"We want to see Frank Lampard spend the rest of his career at
Chelsea and he has intimated the same so that's obviously very good
news indeed.
"Frank knows where we are going as a club and we know he wants to
go there too.
"We share the same ambitions."
