Premier League: Manuel Pellegrini keen Frank Lampard stays at Man City
Sunday 14 December 2014 10:02, UK
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is hopeful he will be able to extend Frank Lampard's loan deal.
The former England midfielder, released by Chelsea last summer, signed for City's sister club New York City FC but was then loaned to the Premier League side, where he has made a strong impact.
That arrangement is due to expire at the end of the month, when the 36-year-old was expected to link up with his new team ahead of their first Major League Soccer season.
But Lampard's form has raised the possibility of the loan being extended and, with fellow midfielder Yaya Toure set to play at the Africa Cup of Nations from January, that would especially benefit City.
Pellegrini wants Lampard to stay in Manchester but he is also aware of the bigger picture concerning City's bold project in the MLS and he also wants to respect the player's wishes.
"Before December finishes we will have a decision but, as I repeat, I think Frank is a very important player for us and I hope we will not have any problems for him to stay here," Pellegrini said.
"But I cannot say just from one side what will happen with him. "He has a loan just until the end of December and there is another club involved.
"The MLS is involved also. There are a lot of parties with an arrangement. It's not just depending on one opinion.
"But I hope we can have a decision as soon as possible because it's important for us and the players.
"He couldn't start in the US until January or February, so prefers to stay here until December. If he can finish the year here, better - but I think that the MLS is a very important league also and I think that Frank Lampard will be very happy in the United States."
Toure's absence is yet to be confirmed but City expect to lose the Ivory Coast international from early in the new year, with Pellegrini adding: "I don't think it is exactly January 1, but I think it's in the first 10 days of the month that he must go."
