LAMPARDS CHELSEA CAREER COULD BE OVER IN WEEKS

CHELSEA boss Roberto Di Matteo today admitted he was in the dark about Frank Lampard's future and accepted the England star could leave Stamford Bridge as soon as January. The 34-year-old midfielder has been linked to a move to the far east for some time with Chinese club Guizhou Rehne confirming this week they want to sign him when the transfer window reopens. And, in a worrying development for Blues fans, Di Matteo revealed todaythat he is not even loosely involved in the negotiations to keep Lampard,who has scored 129 times for Chelsea. Asked whether Lampard was likely to stay, he said: "Ultimately that's between the player and the club to agree a new arrangement," before adding ominously "I'm not aware howthe discussions are going at the moment." If Lampard does quit the Bridge in the coming weeks, he could be followed out of the door by Ashley Cole. Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelottihas personally phoned Cole to try and tempt him to join upwardly mobile Paris St Germain. I'm not aware how the discussions with Frank Lampard are going at themoment. Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo Asked whether the courtship of Lampard and Cole meant he had to fight even harder to convince them not to quit Stamford Bridge, Di Matteo said: "The players know that I would like them to stay. "They are fantastic players who have always performed to a high level for us, for myself too. "I've told them that. I hope they willstay." Chelsea have also seen some of their fringe players linked with moves away, most notably Marko Marin and Oriol Romeu. Romeu has been touted for a return to Spain amid reports his agent had been speaking to Valencia.