David Beckham Lovers

Chelsea's Frank Lampard was rumoured to be considering a move to the after his contract talks stalled midway through last season. Goal.com reported in January that the veteran midfielder was close to following in David Beckham 's footsteps, with a move to LA Galaxy on the cards.

This "done deal" failed to materialise, as Super Frank went on to break Chelsea's all-time scoring record before signing a one-year extension to his contract in May 2013.

The Blues' policy of only offering one-year deals to players over 30 means that the will-they-won't-they dance will be an annual event, and ESPN have reported that David Beckham wants Lampard to join him in Miami.

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The weather is an obvious draw, and the pace of the is such that the 35-year-old could play more regularly than in the Premier League, possibly extending his career by a year or two. Despite that, Lampard should not consider swapping SW6 for the sunshine state next summer.

Since joining Chelsea 12 years ago, Lampard has won four FA Cups, three Premier League titles, two League Cups and Community Shields and the Europa League and Champions League trophies. Having achieved everything that a player at the top level of English football can achieve, you could be forgiven for thinking that a new challenge would be just the ticket for a player as professional as Lampard. However, he told the Evening Standard in 2012:

I would like to end my career there (at Chelsea). I feel I can play at the top level for a good few more years, but it's whether the club feels the same. I know there are a lot of changes at Chelsea. I'd love to be involved, and the youth coming into the squad this year has really freshened up our team.

That youth development is one of the best reasons for Chelsea to hang onto Lampard. He has admitted himself that he is not the most naturally gifted footballer, nor the most athletic man in the squad, and his success is down to years of hard work and dedication. The "youth" that he is talking about are remarkably talented footballers, but there is a lot they could learn from Lampard's work ethic.

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The midfielder has advocated a return to the days when academy players would clean the professional stars' boots as they learned their trade. He told Neil Ashton of the that too many youngsters "think they have made it already" and that they lack the dedication that he and John Terry had to put in. Having a player like Lampard in the squad will be key to Jose 's attempts to build a legacy at Stamford Bridge.

revealed in July that he convinced Lampard not to move to the . According to the , The Special One said:

I know you, don't go to American soccer because you are not a player to go to American soccer. You are a player to compete every week at the highest level. You are a player that needs to be in real competition. If you go to the States you'd be a very important player but you would not enjoy your life as a player and you have years to enjoy your life as a player. So my opinion is not to go, my opinion try to stay at Chelsea.

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Taken in the context that knew that he would be returning to Stamford Bridge in the summer, this statement highlights how silly it would be for Lampard to move to the . He has spoken to about the positive influence that the Portuguese manager had on his career during his first spell in charge, and he is relishing the opportunity to work with him again.

As Lampard begins to consider the options available to him after he hangs up his boots, this writer can think of nobody better to guide him than the man who spurred him on to become a legend at Stamford Bridge.