£12 MILLION LAMPARD BID REJECTED

The former England Under-21 captain is almost certain to leave The Hammers after the departure of the management team - consisting of his uncle and father - and Leeds and Chelsea are leading the chase for his signature.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has said that although David O'Leary wants Lampard at Elland Road, he will not pay 'double figures' for the player, but Aldridge insists they must do so if they want to take him away from Upton Park.

"We have just turned down a bid of £12 million for Frank, which is the second offer in excess of £10m we have had for him this week," Aldridge said.

"While we reluctantly accept that Frank wishes to leave, the price must be right.

"We will be sticking by our valuation of a player who, we believe, will go on to be an England regular in the not too distant future.

"We don't want Frank to go and we want him to be here at the start of the season but we do recognise the problems."