Re: Frank Lampard
Season-long stay at Manchester City possible for Lampard, admits New York City FC chief
New York City FC director of football Claudio Reyna has confirmed that a decision on a possible extension to Frank Lampard's Manchester City loan will be made next week, with a season-long stay not ruled out.
New York City FC director of football Claudio Reyna has admitted that Frank Lampard’s loan stint at Manchester City could be extended past the start of the 2015 MLS campaign in March.
Lampard became a one of NYCFC’s first marquee signings alongside David Villa this past summer upon leaving Chelsea, before joining their sister club on a six-month loan deal in August.
Scheduled to return to the US on January 1 ahead of pre-season, the veteran midfielder was only expected to fill a bit-part role at the fellow City Football Group side but, with five goals and four assists in 11 total appearances, his impact has been far greater than even he himself anticipated.
With manager Manuel Pellegrini hinting at his interest in keeping him at the club for a potential title fight with Chelsea, Reyna is set to head over to Manchester on December 10 to discuss the future of the expansion club’s star man, and is leaving all options open at this point.
“I’ll be heading over to Manchester on the night of the expansion draft for a week and have the conversations with the technical staff there and the directors there to make the right decisions,” he was quoted on empireofsoccer.com. “We will have something next week.”
Questioned on whether talks could lead to Lampard missing the start of NYCFC’s inaugural season, Reyna added: “Really, we don’t know.
“Great players adjust and get to know each other really quick. I don’t think it would be a huge disadvantage if he is not here from day one.”
NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis did his best to avoid the issue, meanwhile, telling reporters: “I think you will learn with me very quickly that the word ‘expect’ doesn’t happen very often.
“I try to go into things without expectations, both with Frank and how I think the team is going to do and everything else.
“What I know is a decision, we are hearing, should be made in the middle of December. It will be made by the people that own this club and I have full trust they will make a decision that is best for Frank, best for Manchester City and best for New York City.
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“At the end of the day, I have full trust in that decision and we will certainly live by whatever it is.”
As big a blow as it would be for NYCFC to have Lampard missing for the start of their debut campaign, both on the pitch and from a commercial perspective, it appears that the club could be set to give in to the Premier League side’s request.
