Frank Lampard To Inter Milan? The Daily Express Walks A Fine Line

British tabloid The Daily Express may have embarrassed itself again — twice in one week. Last Friday, Manchester City threatened legal action against the Express saying it “will pursue those who continue to run or repeat this false story (about Shinawatra putting his whole squad up for sale) and its allegations without the Chairman’s rebuttal.”

Now today The Daily Express newspaper is reporting that Lampard has signed with Inter Milan. The Express is hardly the first to cover the news, but it appears to be the first to say that the transfer has been completed. Again, just as they did regarding the Shinawatra story last week, The Daily Express is not attributing the news story to any source so we’re led to disbelieve the story. If the Express writers Harry Harris and Tony Banks are simply reporting what the Italian press are saying, then they need to clue us in.

Here are the different quotes from the newspapers to see how the British press are covering the news. You’ll notice that The Daily Express is the only one with a different opinion:

“Lampard has agreed a £28m four-year contract with the Italian side,” The Daily Express.

“Reports from Italy that Frank Lampard would quit the club after the game to take up a four-year contract with Inter Milan. Steve Kutner, the England midfield player’s agent, insisted that no decision would be made on his future until later in the summer,” The Times.

“Vincenzo Morabito, a high-level agent who has regular dealings with Inter Milan, has joined with Frank Lampard’s representative, Steve Kutner, in criticising reports suggesting that the Chelsea midfielder has agreed to join Inter Milan after tomorrow night’s Champions League final,” The Daily Telegraph.

“Internazionale’s president, Massimo Moratti, wants to sign Frank Lampard but admitted a deal may depend on the Champions League final result. ‘Lampard is very appreciated at Chelsea but we are talking about him possibly signing,’ he said,” The Guardian.

“The Inter deal is far from cut and dried, according to Lampard’s agent Steve Kutner, who said: ‘Frank is concentrating on the Champions League Final and then he’s going on holiday. When he comes back, Frank and I will talk, we will sit down and discuss football and I will then discuss things with Peter Kenyon,’” The Daily Mirror.

We’ll find out within days or weeks whether The Daily Express got the story right or wrong.