• Serie A

Italian interest in Lampard grows

ESPN staff
January 10, 2013
Frank Lampard highlighted his worth to potential suitors with a match-winning double against Everton © Getty Images
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Italian interest in Frank Lampard's signature has spread to Fiorentina as the club's president is keen to capitalise on football's market hesitancy towards over-30s players.

Earlier this week Juventus' Andrea Pirlo, 33, said the 34-year-old could play on for another four years in Serie A while sides such as Los Angeles Galaxy and Monaco have also been linked with the player.

Fiorentina sit fourth in Serie A and president Mario Cognigni added his team to that list of suitors because he believes bargains can easily be found when dealing with footballers in their 30s.

The England international, who has been a Blue since 2001, is free to talk to interested clubs as he will be out of contract in the summer and has been told it will not be renewed.

"Lampard is a player I have always liked and may be an example of today's marketplace," Cognigni told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"A player who has passed 30 years, his contract is expiring, and he may be the right combination between experience and cost of the deal."

However Cognigni admitted that the decision on whether the Viola will try and bring Lampard to the Stadio Artemio Franchi is out of his hands.

He said: "Market choices are not up to the chairman but to our market men Daniele Prade [sporting director] and Eduardo Macia [technical director]".

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