Frank Lampard: Why Chelsea Need to Do What They Can to Keep Veteran Midfielder

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has recently indicated that this season may be his last at Stamford Bridge. The vice captain spoke to The Telegraph about his future with the club:

The ball is in Chelsea’s court. At the minute nothing has been said. Nothing has been planned. Talks about ‘a one-year extension’ or ‘two-year extension’ don’t exist. Maybe things don’t last forever.

Perhaps Chelsea are just playing hardball, but it seems as though they are doing what they can to cut costs in light of UEFA's impending financial fair play regulations. This includes letting higher wage earners, such as Lampard and Ashley Cole, leave the club.

Rafael Benitez has already admitted that, should things stand as they are, Lampard will be on his way out of the club at the end of the season.

If Abramovich is clever, he will not let that happen.

Lampard is a Chelsea veteran, with 383 appearances and 129 goals to his name. He has helped Chelsea to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Champions League trophy.

He struggled to get 90 minutes for much of the start of this EPL season, and he was forced to sit out last month with a thigh injury. If anything, this last month has only provided a stronger argument for keeping Lampard at the club. It is no coincidence that Chelsea's poor run of games coincided with the absence of both Lampard and captain John Terry.

Although he may not be the ever-present midfield staple that he was been in the past, Lampard still plays a big part in this Chelsea setup. With all of the young additions to the Chelsea lineup, the team really craves the sort of experience that the Englishman can offer. He is not only a good leader and role model, but he is popular with the fans and is the kind of ambassador that Chelsea Football Club desperately needs.

If Chelsea are hoping to save money by letting him go, it is also worth noting that Lampard is one of the top shirts sold worldwide. One look at his reception from the fans in Japan at the Club World Cup this weekend will show you how much he his loved by the international fanbase.

Aside from all of that, Lampard remains a fantastic footballer.

He has a better technical ability than most of his teammates. He is the best taker of set pieces in the squad, and he is able to stamp his mark on any game, making him invaluable to any team.

If Chelsea do not secure his signature, there is a good chance that someone else will. And it could be one of their rivals. There has been talk of a move abroad, but his family situation makes such a move seem unlikely. Should Chelsea send him to a rival club, they are likely to regret it.

Roman, sign him up while you still can.