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Frank Lampard will sign for Chinese side Guizhou Renhe in January, according to reports from China this morning.

The side's owner is reported to have told a journalist from state-owned China Central Television that the Chelsea midfielder has already agreed a deal.

The 34-year-old has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge as Roberto Di Matteo starts the process of replacing Chelsea's old guard, with the England midfielder's contract is up in June.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths)

And a message appearing on Chinese social networking website Weibo claims that Lampard will be making a move when the transfer window reopens in two months' time after former team-mate Didier Drogba signed for Shanghai Shenhua last summer.

Lampard joined the Blues from West Ham in 2001 and has made 571 appearances since.

And the news comes after Di Matteo warned captain John Terry that he is no longer an automatic starter after completing a four-match ban, despite praising the defender's leadership qualities.

Ahead of their tie against Liverpool, the Chelsea boss also hailed the quality of former Red Fernando Torres, who has been "magnificent" since the Italian took over the team.