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Frank Lampard last night publicly accepted his Chelsea career will be over this summer.

Suggestions over the weekend that owner Roman Abramovich was considering a U-turn over Lampard’s future raised the hopes of Chelsea fans.

But last night Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner confirmed that the England midfielder’s stellar Stamford Bridge career will finish when his contract expires in June.

Kutner said: “Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan during the Club World Cup then again reconfirmed with me after the Everton victory that in no circumstances will he be offered a new contract to stay at the club after the end of this season.

“Nothing since has changed in any respect.

“Frank has had to accept that and just wants to carry on playing football for Chelsea so as to finish the season as successfully as possible for the club that he loves.”

(Image: Getty)

Lampard’s successful penalty in Chelsea’s 5-1 win at Southampton on Saturday took the 34-year-old to 193 Chelsea goals – within nine of Bobby Tambling’s club record in the 1960s.

The travelling fans greeted Lampard’s arrival off the bench with a series of choruses of “sign him up” directed at Abramovich and the Blues board but it appears now that will fall on deaf ears.

Mirror Sport reported last month how Lampard’s likely destination is following David Beckham’s path to join Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS. But interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez has backed the veteran midfielder to go on proving his continuing commitment to the club.

Lampard, who joined Chelsea from West Ham for £11million in 2001, made a point of going to the travelling fans after scoring at St Mary’s.

(Image: Getty)

He admitted afterwards: “Maybe I was a little bit emotional but the fans have been with me all the time I’ve been here.

“I know there is a lot of talk going around but I am actually really enjoying playing and enjoying the moment.

“If certain things are going on in your head, when you run out and the fans support you the way they do, it can’t help but make you a bit emotional.

“I just wanted to say ‘thanks’ back.”