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We touched on the possibility last week of an extended stay for Frank Lampard beyond the original intended departure date of the end of January.
Coming as a substitute during the latter stages against Everton it was another typical Lampard display: measured, calm and adding a degree of control to the midfield when needed. His performance came against the backdrop of some official word on his future - rather than reams of speculation - when Andrew Das in the New York Times reported that a decision will be shortly with us:
"The decision should be made in the middle of December," Kreis said. "It will be made by the people that own this club, and I have full trust that they're going to make a decision that's going to be best for Frank, best for Manchester City and best for New York City. At the end of the day I have full trust in that decision and we will live by whatever it is.
"Ultimately, if the decision is made that they need to keep him there for any length of time, I'm going to completely understand, respect and support that decision."
There feels an inevitability around Lampard that at the very least he will remain at City through to the end of February (which would allow him to arrive in New York for the start of the next MLS season), but could it be longer? Will this week and the result in Rome likely determine the outcome?
It was interesting that Kreis said that is the owners that will make a decision and whilst his comments were cautiously optimistic shall we say, there was a clear acknowledgement that the decision may very well go against what is best for him and NYCFC.
Stay tuned.
