Benitez says Cole, Lampard may leave Chelsea

Benitez says Cole, Lampard may leave Chelsea

Published Nov. 24, 2012 3:49 p.m. ET

New Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has indicated that Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard could be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season.

The veteran players are in the final seasons of their contracts and have not agreed to extensions.

Asked if they would be leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer, Benitez said: ''I think that's the case at the moment.''

Benitez added that because his contract only runs until the end of the season ''I don't have all the information.''

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The 34-year-old Lampard joined Chelsea from West Ham in 2001 and is the third on the club's scoring list with 189. He attended a Los Angeles Galaxy game in July and could replace David Beckham, who is leaving Major League Soccer after the season.

''Frank Lampard's a great player,'' MLS Commissioner Don Garber said last month. ''He has a great history with the sport. If he decides he wants to play in Major League Soccer, I'm sure any club would be happy to have him on their roster.''

The 31-year-old Cole has been at Chelsea since a contentious move from Arsenal in 2006.

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