Frank Lampard insists Ross Barkley will not be leaving Chelsea this month, despite rumours of a move to West Ham United gathering pace.
The Hammers are keen to strengthen their midfield in the transfer window and have already seen reported target Gedson Fernandes move to London rivals Tottenham.
Barkley has just shaken off a niggling foot injury and forced his way back into Chelsea’s first-team picture, and impressed in the Blues’ 3-0 Premier League win over Burnley.
Lampard criticised the 26-year-old earlier this season for lacking professionalism after a row with a taxi driver in Liverpool, but he insists Barkley remains central to his Stamford Bridge plans.
Asked about the midfielder being linked to a West Ham switch, Lampard said: “There’s no talk here of Ross Barkley going anywhere; he’s our player.”
The Blues boss also talked about the club’s chances of staying in the hunt for the Champions League places by the end of the season.
Chelsea visit Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, a ground which has been unkind to them in recent years, but know another win will keep them at least five points clear of Manchester United in fifth.
And the Blues’ record goalscorer is determined to stop complacency from creeping into his squad
“They are all ifs,” he said. “One part we can control, that is our game.”
“We have to win our game and see what happens.”
Lampard also discussed various other topics during his press conference, and talkSPORT round-up the best bits, below…
Frank Lampard not looking at January transfers despite Chelsea loss
“If everything is right it might happen but it’s not, so whilst it’s not he’s our player.
“And the great thing about Oli is that he’s got great experience and professionalism, and he’s been nothing but great with us.”
“I rate him very highly, I knew him as a youth player in the academy here.
“I saw him on loan last year where he did fantastically well at Wigan.
“I tried to get him to Derby but he couldn’t come in mid-season. But I admired him a lot. And then work with him, I feel the same, and even more so now he’s got his foot into the first team.
“I think there’s a lot more to come from Reece James, a really talented player.
“Like a lot of the younger players, he wants to learn, improve, train and do the right things. And he has that talent, so it’s great for the club that he’s signed for so long.”
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“There is nothing imminent; there aren’t people waiting in the wings that I don’t know about, or you don’t know about.
“So there’s no news on that front. I’m not going to be embarrassed by anything happening soon; there’s nothing.
“What remains the same is that the window is open and if there’s anything we 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 our job at hand, which is winning matches.
“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.”