FRANK LAMPARD GETS HIMSELF AN ALTER AGO

The Frank Lampard contract debacle at Chelsea has taken a bizarre twist after the talismanic defender changed his name in order to force through negotiations on a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

The 34-year-old now wants to be known as the very continental sounding, Franc L’ampere and has told friends, family and all those around him to start referring to him as his Gaelic alter ego.

It is thought that the Premier League central midfielder has made the move to appear more European in a bid to convince Roman Abramovich that his future lies at the West London club.

With a plethora of exotic names in the Chelsea line up, the question of whether there’s a place for an experienced Englishman such as Lampard has been on the lips of football fans across the country, but this latest development has shocked everyone.

 The strange turn of events was reported by Future News host and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright as he predicted the lates twist in the Frank Lampard saga.

You can see the full report below, but for now, it remains to be seen whether Mr L’ampere can convince the Blues’ owner to take a punt on an ageing star.

Mikel Obi: Every major tournament makes you become more mature

The Super Eagles midfielder surprised many with his commanding performances in helping the team win its third Afcon trophy in South Africa

John Obi Mikel has said that winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Cup and the crowd that met the team on arrival in Nigeria is a feeling he will never forget.

The Chelsea midfielder played a big part in the Super Eagles' run to their third continental title where he became a leader on and off the pitch.

“It was crazy. It was really nice to go back home after the tournament with the cup - the whole country was waiting,” he told his club’s official magazine.

“It was a big, big thing, because we couldn't walk, we couldn't actually get out of the airport. The whole way through, from the airport to the hotel where we were staying, it was crazy.'

Mikel missed a penalty kick in the first match against Burkina Faso but he did not allow that miss to dampen his enthusiasm as he went on to be named in Caf’s XI of the tournament with outstanding displays against Cote d’Ivoire and Mali in the quarter finals and semi-finals respectively.

“Every major tournament makes you become more mature.

“I think it's because I have played in so many major tournaments at such a young age that I have the maturity - you go through a hard time to win tournaments and it makes you grow.

“It's a life experience and it's something that I have been lucky enough to do from a young age at Chelsea as well, where I have played alongside some of the best players in the world and I've learnt a lot from them.'

The Chelsea midfielder is happy that they overcame a strong field to win the tournament.

“The level has gone right up. So to win it this time was just amazing.

"To win it at a stage when African football has become so interesting - when there are so many African players abroad - was really, really difficult, and we did it," he said.

Mikel thus added the Nations Cup to the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cups that he has won at his time with Chelsea FC.