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Chelsea to offer Frank Lampard role if he retires from playing - sources

Chelsea are set to offer Frank Lampard a job in some capacity if he chooses to retire, a source close to the club has told ESPN FC.

Lampard announced on Monday that he will leave New York City FC when his contract expires next month.

The 38-year-old said he would make a decision on whether to end his playing career "soon," but the reports said the Blues were prepared to offer him a role at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard spent 13 years at Chelsea, scoring 211 goals in 648 appearances and winning three Premier League titles.

He left in 2014 after agreeing to join NYCFC, but spent the next year on loan at their parent club Manchester City.

The source did not specify whether Lampard would be given a coaching or ambassadorial role or whether that decision would be up to him.

However, reports in British newspapers on Tuesday said Chelsea would like to keep long-term players such as Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ashley Cole at the club after they retire.

This would be done to avoid the situation at Arsenal, who have seen players such as Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry take up roles elsewhere.

Lampard has not been linked to playing with many other clubs, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Sky Sports was set to offer him a contract as a pundit.

The former England international was a key player for NYCFC this season, scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances to help the club reach the MLS playoffs.

ESPN FC's Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey contributed to this report

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