‘Lampard never signed for New York City’

The Premier League confirmed Frank Lampard is registered as a player solely with Manchester City — which means he may never play for New York City.

The league is also satisfied the Premier League champions have not broken any rules over their signing of the former England midfielder.

Lampard, 36, was expected to join City’s sister club New York City full-time this month having apparently been on loan in Manchester from the American outfit. But now it seems Lampard, despite being announced as a New York signing last summer, has never signed any formal contract with the Major League Soccer newcomers.

Lampard had actually been on a short-term, full-time deal with City for the first half of the season and that was extended to the end of the campaign on New Year’s Eve.

It means confusion remains over what exactly Lampard had agreed with NYCFC, who publicly announced they expected the player to join them on January 1, while Lampard also fronted their season ticket marketing campaign. There have been suggestions Lampard might actually have signed with City Football Group — parent company for both clubs — but the Premier League has indicated there is no provision for a move to NYCFC. The league has looked into the matter, feeling it needed to ascertain who owned Lampard’s contract to safeguard the integrity of its competition. It has concluded nothing untoward has occurred.

Meanwhile boss Garry Monk insists Swansea’s valuation must be met before City can sign Wilfried Bony. A reported £30 million (€38m) deal has to get over the line, with Swansea sticking firm on their valuation of the 26-year-old Ivory Coast striker.

“I have spoken to the chairman of the club and the situation is ongoing, they are trying to agree fees but they are a little way apart,” Monk said.

“We have had those discussions about what he’s worth but the chairman is not stupid either.”

Asked if he felt Bony was worth more than Romelu Lukaku, who joined Everton from Chelsea in a £28m deal last summer, Monk said: “It’s pretty much a no-brainer... he could be the difference in the title race, couldn’t he? That’s what City see in him.”