Sunday, 28th October, 2012
Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has admitted the club could lose stalwarts Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, whose current contracts at Stamford Bridge expire at the end of the campaign.
As such, if no new deals are signed, both Cole and Lampard will be free to sign pre-contractual agreements with another club in January, meaning the Blues could effectively lose the pair in a little over two months.
"That’s the world of football", Di Matteo was quoted as saying by the BBC, when asked whether he was worried the pair could ink deals to leave Chelsea soon.
"That’s how you live in this world, in this industry", he added.
"We had the same last season with some players and, at the end of the day, we all have to be professional and try to do our best, even though maybe the contract is not sorted out."
Di Matteo did go on record as stating that he would love Cole to sign a new deal as he believes the 31-year-old still has many fruitful years ahead of him.
relatedNewsStory"He’s a fit boy. He can play every game, so he still has many years in front of him.
"My point is that I would like him to stay here and be here with us."
Lampard meanwhile is 34 years old and signed for Chelsea in 2001, making the move from fellow London club West Ham.
