Frank Lampard Loan Extension: Latest Details on Manchester City Star's Future

Updates from Friday, Sept. 26

New York City FC will not permit Frank Lampard to extend his stay at Manchester City, according to Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail.

Lampard is currently contracted to the English club until the end of January, but any talk of an extension into February will not find favour with New York, Ladyman writes:

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New York City FC will oppose any move from Manchester City to keep Frank Lampard at the Etihad Stadium for longer than his agreed loan spell.

[...] While there is no suggestion that City and the MLS franchise it established last year are pulling in opposite directions, it would appear that City fans will have to make do with just five months of the former England star.

Asked about the Lampard stories on Tuesday this week, NYCFC coach Jason Kreis said: ‘There is no truth in this rumour at all.’

"

Updates from Thursday, Sept. 25

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed there is a possibility Frank Lampard will remain with Manchester City beyond the end of January.

It is widely reported that a deal has already been struck for Lampard's loan conditions to be extended into February, and Pellegrini commented after City's 7-0 rout of Sheffield Wednesday, per Ian Ladyman of the Mail Online:

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It is an issue that we will see further down the line. We will see what happens in January and we have two or three months to decide.

[...] We will do what is best for the team and the player. We must talk about a lot of things, but it is not impossible for him to stay here.

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Original Text

Frank Lampard has reportedly extended his loan deal with Manchester City, meaning he will once again face former club Chelsea in the Premier League.

Andy Burton of Sky Sports reported the news:

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Have just reported on @SkySportsNewsHQ that Frank Lampard's loan at @MCFC will now extend into early February. City vs Chelsea is Jan 31.

— Andy Burton (@imandyburton) September 23, 2014"

Manuel Pellegrini failed to confirm the deal however, as noted by City's Twitter account:

Lampard signed for New York City FC in the summer, but joined their Sky Blue affiliate club in order to maintain fitness while NYCFC integrate themselves into the MLS.

The England international came off the bench to net his first City goal on Sunday, a strike which so happened to deny Chelsea a famous victory at the Etihad.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

He will now have the opportunity to further dent Jose Mourinho's title dreams at the end of January, where Chelsea's all-time top scorer is likely to return to Stamford Bridge as an opposing player for the first time.

Although Lampard decided against celebrating his finely taken goal, his strike earned City a well-deserved 1-1 draw in a match that saw Pablo Zabaleta sent off for the hosts. Lampard's appearance ignited bad blood between Pellegrini and Mourinho—who replaced the Chilean as Real Madrid manager in 2012—adding an interesting sub-plot to Lampard's match-saving display.

After the final whistle, Pellegrini said, "Chelsea didn't want Frank Lampard" and insinuated the midfielder had been unfairly pushed out of the west London club, per Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Mourinho responded by appearing to deliberately mispronounce Pellegrini's name as "Pellegrino," saying he isn't prepared to comment on players from others teams, per ESPN:

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Pellegrino many times says he never speaks about me and my team but he keeps doing the same thing. I am the one that does as he says. I don't comment on his words. Don't ask me about his words, I am not interested in that. 

I don't speak about players from other teams, I am sorry. I don't speak about Frank. To speak about Frank is to speak about my past with Frank, the player he was for what he means in my career. I will never tire of speaking about this.

"

Mourinho was also quoted as saying Lampard's "love stories" with Chelsea "are over," reported by Sky Sports and via BBC Sport. Even so, the Portuguese manager remains an obvious fan of the 36-year-old, noting Lampard's ability to remain "professional" during a high-stakes match.

Lampard may be needed as cover for Yaya Toure once 2015 arrives, as the destructive City midfielder is likely to be called into the Cote d'Ivoire squad ahead of next year's African Cup of Nations. This runs from Jan. 17-Feb. 8, leaving City short on midfield numbers after the Christmas break.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Considering this is when City join the FA Cup and Champions League knockout stages, Lampard's presence could be key. This is a player who has won it all at club level and is capable of influencing important matches until the day he retires, as proven against Chelsea.

City are able to bypass any unnecessary transfer fees by keeping Lampard on for an extra month. This is extremely important considering they have already received one set of punishments under UEFA's Financial Fair Play guidelines. Pellegrini will also have extra time to scout and integrate a long-term midfield replacement in the summer.

Lampard has already proven his worth in the City side and will continue working hard with the champions. His return to Stamford Bridge is destined to be rapturous, no matter his influence on the title race, such is the stature held by one of the division's best ever performers.