According to reports, Frank Lampard will in fact, be extending his stay at Manchester City. The former Chelsea midfielder is currently on loan from MLS side, New York City FC and the agreement was for him to be at the Etihad Stadium until New Year’s Eve.
However, the Mirror is reporting that Lampard has agreed an extension that will see him stay a City player until mid-February.
“It’s not so easy because Frank is a New York City player. He is only on loan until December 31, so we must respect the other people. I repeat that Frank is very important for our team so I hope he will stay here. The reason [for the delay in a final decision on his future] is not important – the important thing is that he stays here,” Manuel Pellegrini said.
The Chilean went on to say, “Yes, I am confident he’ll stay, but I can’t say 100 per cent because it doesn’t depend just on me.”
The loan extension comes as a big boost as with the African Cup of Nations approaching and the impending departure of Yaya Toure, Lampard provides adequate cover for the Ivorian in his absence.
“One of the reasons we asked him [Lampard] to play here was because we knew Yaya would be leaving us to go to the African Cup of Nations,” Pellegrini said. “Yaya will go between January 5 to 10. We’re not exactly sure of the dates, but I think he will play in the FA Cup third round and then go in the second week of January.”
