Manchester City to foot Frank Lampard bill after Chelsea move amid claims of FFP dodge
Manchester City-bound Frank Lampard will have his wages paid in full by his new employers amid suggestions the transfer is a ploy to flout European football’s Financial Fair Play regulations.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger raised concerns after news broke that Lampard, who spent 13 years with Chelsea and scored a club record 211 goals, is to join the Premier League champions tomorrow on a six-month loan deal from New York City FC.
Following the expiry of his Stamford Bridge contract last month, Lampard signed a two-year deal with the Major League Soccer expansion side, a club which is co-owned by City and baseball giants New York Yankees, although the American domestic season does not start until March 2015.
Earlier this year, City accepted a conditional £49m fine and restrictions on incoming transfers as part of wide-ranging sanctions for breaching European governing body Uefa’s FFP rules.
Limitations were also placed on boss Manuel Pellegrini’s options in respect of naming a Champions League squad, with the usual 25 players cut to 21, with a minimum of five homegrown.
The loan deal enables boxes to be ticked, with Lampard given competitive action before the start of the MLS season while also helping City satisfy the quota of homegrown players.
It is understood that City will foot the bill for Lampard’s wages during his stay at the Etihad Stadium, with New York City taking on the baton when the midfielder returns stateside.
Wenger had questioned whether City’s decision to sign Lampard was designed to circumvent the FFP rulings, with the financial sting potentially taken out of any such deal at a time when the spotlight on their transfer market dealings remains intense.
“Is it a way to get around fair play? I don’t know,” said Wenger. “It looks like all these ‘City’ clubs will feed the main club Manchester City – I heard they want to buy five clubs all over the world.”
He added: “I don’t know the rules well enough, but they bought a franchise for £59.4m to play in the States next season.”