I discuss the future of Chelsea midfielers Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard on http://thechelseablog.wordpress.com, both of whom have one year remaining on their current contract. There is uncertainty surrounding whether Ballack will stay beyond his current deal and whether Lampard will even be at Chelsea when the season starts in August.

My gut feeling is that Ballack will be on top form next season. He will have to put the disappointment of losing the Champions League and Euro 2008 finals behind him and start again in August. These final defeats will make him more determined to win trophies with Chelsea and I expect him to be scoring vital goals for Scolari over the next couple of years. I'd like to see the football odds on Ballack scoring 15+ goals next season - he is Scolari's type of player in my view.

So that leaves Lampard. As we all know, there is much doubt over his future. He also only has one year left on his current deal and Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan are supposedly upping their pursuit of the England midfielder despite Scolari saying that he will be staying at Stamford Bridge. Like everyone, I am fed up of Lampard contract talks. He wants a five year deal, Chelsea are offering him four. Considering this contract is set to include a £150,000 a week salary - is the disagreement over an extra year really worth the risk of losing Lampard?

Continue reading this article at: 

http://thechelseablog.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/michael-ballack-v-frank-lampard-who

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