Manchester United ARE serious about landing Chelsea icon Frank Lampard. The Daily Star says United re prepared to sit tight until the end of January in their pursuit of the Chelsea star.

Bosses at Stamford Bridge would be willing to talk to their Premier League rivals if they were to make a bid in excess of £7m.

The interest in Lampard is very real, and with the player seemingly at odds with Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas, United will wait to see if that relationship deteriorates further in the next fortnight.

Usually the thought of selling to a direct rival in the race for the title would mean such a deal would be a non-starter.

But Chelsea privately concede they are now long outsiders in the race for top spot this season and Villas-Boas has already started to look towards planning for next season.