Frank Lampard speaks out on Willian and soon-to-be out of contract Chelsea stars

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has opened up on the concerning situation with regards to the members of his squad on expiring contracts, as the extended season inches towards a return.

PL return on the cards

The main talking point surrounding football in England, for some time, has of course been just when the Premier League campaign could get back underway.

While there were previously question marks around whether the English top-flight would return at all amid the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 struggles, the widespread assumption, for several weeks now, has been that a resumption is imminent.

A government announcement earlier this week, meanwhile, confirmed that, from June 1st, the UK would be ‘permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact’.

Following an announcement from the Government, the Premier League could be set to restart behind closed doors in June…⚽🗓

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 11, 2020

‘Hopefully that arrangement can be made’

One issue which has continued to loom large ahead of the season’s return, however, has surrounded player contracts.

A host of stars across England and beyond are currently tied down to deals which are set to expire on June 30th.

This of course poses a major problem, with the 2019/20 campaign now expected to drag into July, and potentially beyond.

One side no doubt particularly concerned over this situation, meanwhile, are Chelsea.

As things stand, the contracts of a quartet of Blues stars, in the form of Pedro Rodriguez, Willian, Willy Caballero and Olivier Giroud, are due to expire this summer.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Jorginho after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

The Premier League did announce earlier this week that clubs will have until the 23rd of June to negotiate short-term extensions to such deals, but players remain well within their rights to turn down such proposals.

As such, speaking earlier today, Frank Lampard was drawn on the members of his Chelsea squad entering the final month of their current terms at Stamford Bridge.

And, though the Blues boss was quick to assure that the club will attempt to secure extensions with the likes of Willian and Pedro, he also admitted that ‘we’ll have to see how that works’:

‘It is still uncertain if and when play will get underway. We have big players [out of contract] so that’s something I’m obviously looking at very carefully,’ Lampard told Sky Sports News.

‘The ones who are out of contract here have been great servants for the club, and actually have a lot of feelings for the club.’

‘Of course they’ll be concerned about themselves, in terms of how training is now and if the pre-season is a rush they’re going to have to make sure they’re alright.’

‘So it’s going to have to be something we have to look at, hopefully that arrangement can be made so they can stay with us.’

‘I would love the squad to look as it has all season, but we’ll have to see how that works.’

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