Chelsea hoping to tie down Lampard

Chelsea will try to convince Frank Lampard to commit his future to the club by ensuring he feels loved.

The England midfielder will discuss extending his contract at Stamford Bridge after England's upcoming friendlies against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.

Lampard, 29, has one year remaining on his present deal and he and Chelsea have reportedly failed to agree an extension for more than a year.

He was linked this week with a move to Italian giants Inter Milan but Blues chairman Bruce Buck is confident the player will opt to stay in west London.

"For Frank, the season ends in about 10 days' time, I guess, after the two England friendlies," Buck told Chelsea TV.

"We will sit down with Frank and Steve Kutner, his agent.

"We've said along, we love Frank Lampard, the fans love Frank Lampard, and he's a great player. We want him to stay at Chelsea Football Club.

"We're hopeful, confident, that we'll reach agreement with Frank and he'll be here for the long-term."

Lampard will doubtless want assurances Chelsea are planning to strengthen a squad which finished trophyless for the first time in four years following Wednesday night's Champions League final defeat.

He will be buoyed therefore by suggestions the club are preparing a €35 million bid for Real Madrid forward Robinho.

The Brazil star's agent Wagner Ribeiro told Brazilian TV station Globo he held a meeting with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, during which a fee for the player was discussed.

"I met Peter Kenyon in London on Thursday," said Ribeiro.

"He told me that they (Chelsea) were considering making an offer of €35 million for Robinho."

It had previously been rumoured in the Spanish press that Robinho would be used by the Spanish champions in a cash-plus-player deal to try and bring Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.

Robinho, who has just enjoyed his best season in a Madrid shirt since joining in 2005, last week claimed he had no interest in leaving Spain at present.

Robinho also confirmed there was firm interest from Chelsea.