"It's going to be an interesting tug of war" THE BATTLE FOR FRANK LAMPARD

New York City: Frank Lampard 'key' to Man City sister club

Frank Lampard is in the middle of an intriguing problem that could provide a huge setback for one of Major League Soccer's newest clubs, New York City FC, before they even play a competitive match.

 

The 36-year-old, along with former Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Spain striker David Villa, 33, are the two headline signings for the club's inaugural 2015 MLS season, beginning in March.
Lampard is currently on loan at Premier League champions Manchester City, the club whose Abu Dhabi United Group owners also own New York City, having co-formed the franchise with the New York Yankees baseball team.
The midfielder is due to start pre-season training with his new club ahead of their first season in MLS.
But after six goals in 14 appearances, City boss Manuel Pellegrini is keen to extend his loan deal beyond January.
BBC North West Tonight examines why his move to the United States is so important and how New York City can become successful Stateside.

Lampard 'fills stadiums'

"For him to have any kind of delay in joining Major League Soccer from the beginning, the initiation of this club, would be a disastrous proposition," said Dave Martinez, a New York-based football writer for empireofsoccer.com. 
"It's going to be an interesting tug of war and I think that will define how the City football group operates."
Lampard agreed his move to New York following his release by Chelsea at the end of last season, but decided to move to the Etihad for five months to fill the void before the MLS season starts.

Frank Lampard said he rejected offers from elsewhere to sign for New York City FC

With his impressive form a key feature behind the Premier League side's eight wins in a row, Pellegrini wants to keep the former England midfielder. But will the club's owners be a factor in him staying?
With City now just three points behind Chelsea in the Premier League, and into the knockout stages of the Champions League, his experience could be vital.
"You don't want to be a satellite club," added Martinez. "Lampard is perhaps the crowning jewel of this organisation already.
"When Chelsea came to play, he filled up the stadium and it was definitely Lampard fans."

City in New York

The window of a large Times Square sports store illustrates just what New York City FC is up against.
Nestled away in the corner of the display, behind a dozen Yankees tops, six basketball tops emblazoned with New York Knicks writing and some gear from City's soon-to-be MLS rivals, New York Red Bulls, is a sole New York City strip.
A sign this club is making an impact in the Big Apple. But also a sign that there is a long way to go.
Man City announced their intention to form a MLS franchise with baseball giants Yankees in May 2013, and City's Abu Dhabi owners have since taken stakes in Australian side Melbourne Heart and Japan's Yokohama F Marinos.
The new franchise, the 20th in the MLS, will be the first in the city itself but the third in the metropolitan area.