Frank Lampard's Chelsea future still appears to be in limbo after coach Avram Grant revealed he was not party to any of the negotiations aimed at keeping the England midfielder at the club.
Lampard, who claimed a hat-trick in the dramatic 4-3 win over Leicester in the Carling Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge last night, has yet to commit himself to a new long-term deal - sparking fears he will quit the club.
The midfielder bagged his first hat-trick since January with the last-minute winner to kill off battling City and earn holders Chelsea a place in the quarter-finals.
But Grant would not be drawn on the state of play over Lampard's contract which expires in 18 months' time.
Grant said: ‘Frank is very important for the team. He likes to do things to a high level that is his target and our target.
‘I am not involved in the money situation. They are negotiating and at the end of the day they will find a solution. Frank wants to stay at Chelsea and Chelsea wants Frank.
‘Frank says it all the time. It is only negotiating. It is not a football matter.’
Lampard has so far rejected all attempts by Chelsea to persuade him to sign a new contract and time is running out.
Lampard's worth to Chelsea on the football front was clearly evident in their sensational last-gasp victory over a Championship side that, at one stage, threatened to bundle the holders out of the competition.
Late goals from Andriy Shevchenko (87) and Lampard (93) rescued Chelsea after City stormed back to lead 3-2 in the 74th minute.
Grant declared: ‘It was a good game. We enjoyed the winning and scoring four goals but we didn't like what happened in the game because we conceded three goals.
‘More importantly it showed that we have good character. I have never in my life given up until the last moment even if we are losing 2-0.
‘This is football. When we were leading 2-1 we created five chances one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It was fantastic but we should have scored. But that is football.’
