No way Jose as Lampard ‘not going to Madrid’
Former Blues boss Mourinho is reportedly targeting 31-year-old Lampard as a potential signing when he takes over at the Bernabeu today.
Star midfielder Lampard enjoyed a good relationship with the Portuguese boss during his time at Stamford Bridge, but Buck is adamant the England international is “going nowhere’’.
“Lampard is a great player,’’ Buck said. “But you can’t possibly imagine Frank Lampard wearing anything other than the Chelsea shirt.’’
Chelsea received a further boost after Ashley Cole, who like Lampard has been linked with a move to Madrid and a reunion with Mourinho, told the club he has no intention of quitting Stamford Bridge.
The England star has been at the centre of mounting speculation following claims he has become disillusioned with life in England.
It follows the much-publicised break-up of his marriage to Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.
Mourinho has revealed he’d love to recruit Cole. But a senior Chelsea source last night revealed: “Ashley is going absolutely nowhere and he has notified the club he has no intention of seeking a move.
“He remains eternally grateful for the support he received from people at the club including owner Roman Abramovich.”
Meanwhile Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has signed a new six-year contract to keep him at Tottenham until 2016.
The 24-year-old, who joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb in summer 2008, had been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United after impressing for the north London club over the past two seasons.
But he yesterday committed his long-term future to Tottenham, insisting he had “no interest in going anywhere else”.
“Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I want to go on to achieve great success here with them,’’ Modric said.
“Yes, there have been enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere.
“Last season’s top-four finish was an indication of where we are as a club and I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs.”
Elsewhere Rangers are waiting to hear back from Liverpool after rejecting the Anfield club’s offer for teenage defender Danny Wilson.
Rangers confirmed Liverpool’s interest in the 18-year-old almost two months ago and manager Walter Smith has now revealed the Ibrox club turned down a concrete offer.
Smith, who has been linked with a move for Middlesbrough striker Lee Miller, said: “We are currently waiting to hear back from Liverpool after we rejected their original £2m (€2.3m) offer.”
Wilson has refused the club’s attempts to extend his contract, which has one year remaining, and Rangers would receive compensation of just several hundred thousand pounds should he leave next summer.
Rangers expect the centre-back, who made 25 first-team appearances last season, to move on but they are holding out for more money for the Scottish Football Writers’ young player of the year.
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has previously admitted that the club rejected approaches for Wilson from two Barclays Premier League clubs in January and more have since made their interest known, with Tottenham strongly linked with a move.
Meanwhile, Colin Healy looks set to leave Ipswich for Hartlepool as the League One club try to sign the Corkman for the third time.
The former Celtic player joined Roy Keane at Portman Road last summer in preference to the north-east club who had a £100,000 (€117,000) bid accepted by Cork City and who also enquired about him in January.
Healy has made just three Championship appearances and two Carling Cup games for the Tractor Boys and is deemed to be surplus to requirements.
The 30-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Falkirk, where he was a virtual ever-present.
If the move to Hartlepool is completed Healy would team up with former Cork teammates Denis Behan, Joe Gamble and Leon McSweeney.
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