Inter ups bid for Lampard to 11 mn pounds

LondoInteln, July 18: Italian club Inter Milan is ready to make a fresh bid of 11million pounds for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

Chelsea will receive a new offer for the England midfielder after a meeting between Inter president Massimo Moratti and his directors recommended an increase on the original 7.95million pounds bid on Thursday.

Inter boss Jose Mourinho is determined to get Lampard and Moratti has vowed not to let his new coach down, The Sun reported.

Chelsea leave for their pre-season tour of the Far East this weekend with Lamps scheduled to travel with the Blues'' squad.

But the Italian giants hope a new move will open negotiations with Chelsea, which could lead to the 30-year-old switching clubs.

Neither ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho nor Moratti will give up on their scheme to sign former West Ham hero Lampard.

However, the Inter owner warned that they may have to put a back-up plan in place and said: “Lampard is the priority but naturally in cases like this I have been looking around for some time. If it is not possible to sign Lampard, we would take a player with the most similar characteristics.”

“Lampard is a very serious lad. Certainly he is torn between having the pleasure of doing something new and a sense of duty towards his club. In the end it’s up to him to find a solution,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich is set to let Frank Lampard leave Chelsea if Inter Milan bid 20million pounds for him.

The Blues owner has dismissed Inter offers of 8 million pounds and 10 million pounds. But, with the saga dragging on, a more realistic figure could see the England midfielder get his move. (ANI)

Technology Update: