Benitez hints at England duo exit

New Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has suggested that the established duo of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard could leave the club at the end of the season.

New Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has suggested that the established duo of Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard could leave the club at the end of the season.

Neither of the England internationals have agreed extensions to their contracts with the Champions League winners and their futures have been the subject of some debate.

According to Benitez, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday but does not expect to have a big influence on comings and goings after the season, stories linking them with a move are not far wide of the mark.

Asked if he thought the pair would be moving on in the summer, he said: "I think so. I don't have all the information and it's not fair to tell me I'm only here for seven months and then expect me to have an influence at the club over the next two or three years, but I think that's the case at the moment."

If Benitez's assumption is a correct one, it would mark the end of two distinguished Chelsea careers.

Lampard, 34, joined Chelsea from West Ham in 2001 and has gone on to become the club's third all-time leading goalscorer with 189 goals.

He has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a perhaps most famously a Champions League with the Blues. He has linked with a move to the MLS in America.

Cole, 31, is a also a title, FA Cup and Champions League winner, having joined the club from Arsenal in 2006.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Republic of Ireland Training Session and Media Conference Ogbene ruled out for 'few weeks'
Chelsea v Leicester City - Barclays Women's Super League - Kingsmeadow Willie Kirk sacked as Leicester boss after position became ‘untenable’
St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne - SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Damien Duff: 'The leading light of Irish football is not the national team but the league itself'
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited