Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo
fears the club could effectively lose
its England stars Ashley Cole and
Frank Lampard in January.
The pair will be free to sign pre-contract
agreements with rival clubs in the new
year if they do not agree new deals
ahead of their current contracts
expiring in the summer.
Di Matteo admitted he was worried but
said: "That's the world of football.
"That's how you live in this world, in
this industry."
He added: "We had the same last
season with some players and, at the
end of the day, we all have to be
professional and try to do our best,
even though maybe the contract is not
sorted out."
Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou both
left the club last summer after they
were unable to agree new deals with
Chelsea.
On 31-year-old left-back Cole, who has
won 99 caps for England, Di Matteo
said: "He's a fit boy. He can play every
game, so he still has many years in
front of him.
"My point is that I would like him to stay
here and be here with us."
Midfielder Lampard, 34, has scored 188
goals in more than 600 appearances
for the Blues since signing from West
Ham for £11m in 2001.
Speaking ahead of his side's Premier
League meeting with Manchester United
on Sunday, Di Matteo also confirmed
John Mikel Obi was in talks over a new
contract.
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