Frank Lampard rules out Chelsea exits for Ross Barkley and Willian with club still no closer to signings

Barkley and Willian staying put, says Lampard.
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James Olley17 January 2020

Frank Lampard has ruled out the possibility of Ross Barkley and Willian leaving Chelsea this month.

West Ham are interested in taking Barkley on loan while Willian’s future is uncertain as he enters the final six months of his contract with talks stalling over an extension and several clubs including Barcelona monitoring the situation.

Although Lampard admitted Olivier Giroud could leave the Blues this month with Inter Milan in pole position to sign the France striker, he dismissed the prospects of further departures.

“There's no talk here of Ross Barkley going anywhere,” said Lampard. “He is our player, he played the last couple of games and he has done very well and because of certain circumstances, Ross hasn't featured as much here. But, I have got a lot of faith in Ross.

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“That was just news I heard like everyone else this week and I have no feeling towards it. I am very happy with him. Olivier Giroud, we all know there may be something that can happen. The good thing about Oli is that he is so experienced. I have a good relationship with him as does the club so again, if all circumstances are right it could happen.

“Whilst it is not, he is our player. Willian is not going anywhere. We know his contract is up at the end of the season and he is in conversations with the club which is still ongoing. There's no news on that. He is certainly our player.”

Chelsea have been linked with a raft of players including Moussa Dembele, Jadon Sancho and Wilfried Zaha but Lampard insisted the club are not close to bringing anyone in.

“I won't talk about any individuals and there is nothing as I say,” he said. “I'm going to be embarrassed by anything happening soon, there's nothing.

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“What remains the same is that the window is open and if there's anything when can do to improve us then we will attempt to do it.

“We are working on that, but also I'm very aware of how I want the squad to be, and how much we must focus on what is our job in hand which is winning matches. So that's the focus on Newcastle tomorrow.

“We'll keep working and there may be news; I'm not closing the door as such, but it has to be right, in January.”

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