Lampard Fears Chelsea Exit

It appears Frank Lampard's Chelsea career could be coming to an end after a phenomenally successful 11-year stint at the club.

34-year-old Lampard spoke openly about his future for the first time after his team's 3-1 victory over Monterrey at the FIFA World Club Cup in Japan:

"There have been no talks about anything about an extension. The ball is in Chelsea's court. I'm a Chelsea player, as simple as that. I've had a great, great time here. Maybe things don't last forever. Although I want it to last forever, you have to be big enough to know what it is.

I'm not the kind of player to see out my time and sit with my bum on the bench too much. I want to be involved. That's my character. I will keep trying to do that, whatever the circumstances.

I can't predict anything but I feel like I have two or three years at least in me at the top level. It is not for me to decide on this one. Whatever happens, I have had a great time at Chelsea. I am determined to play a few more years and see what pans out in the near future."

With his contract up in the summer Lampard would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club in January. If Chelsea do not make their move then a switch to another Premier League team is possible, but my instinct tells me that he would find it hard to pull on the colours of another English side and risk his status as a Stamford Bridge legend after more than a decade connected to the club and the Chelsea fans. Following in the footsteps of David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane by spending the final years of his playing career in the MLS would seems the more likely scenario.

Whether you're a Chelsea fan or not you have to respect Lampard's words, the consistency he's shown and the goals his scored. If he does move on the Premier League would be losing one of it's iconic players and we'd be losing one of the most productive fantasy point scorers ever seen.