FRANK Lampard is caught in the middle of an Asian tug-of-war after being offered �250,000-a-week after tax by two rival Chinese clubs, according to reports.

The Chelsea midfielder is on the brink of ending his 11-year association with the Stamford Bridge club next summer with Chinese Super League clubs Shanghai Shenhua and Beijing Guoan willing to offer him a �1million-a-month deal.

Shanghai Shenhua have already signed former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba and Lampard, whose contract expires at the end of the season, could be free to talk to possible suitors in January.

Chelsea have a policy of tabling only one-year extensions to players aged over 30 but manager Roberto Di Matteo has always insisted the 34-year-old remains a key component of his first-team.

Elsewhere, Liverpool are eyeing up Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen as the long-term replacement for 32-year-old Steven Gerrard.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has earmarked the 20-year-old as he seeks to attract youthful additions to form the nucleus of his team.

A host of European elite sides have attempted to lure the Danish international away from Amsterdam, and Rodgers will have to convince the board that the young prodigy is the man to bring back former glories to Anfield.

From attack to defence, Liverpool are favourites to sign Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna.

The Italian has impressed a number of European clubs in the past 12 months, with both Manchester City and Manchester United told to cough up �16million to land the defender, who is contracted to the side until 2016.

Juventus are interested in Manchester United target Robert Lewandowski, 24, scorer of 30 goals for Borussia Dortmund last season as the German club won the league and cup double.

Former Ipswich manager Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy have emerged as the favourites to succeed Owen Coyle as Bolton manager if the Scot is given his marching orders.

A decision on Coyle’s future could be made today following talks with owner Eddie Davies and chairman Phil Gartside.

Elsewhere, Burnley are eyeing a loan move for Everton defender Shane Duffy while Reading are ready to spend �4million on Burnley’s Charlie Austin - a striker they released as a 15-year-old.

QPR chiefs will decide this week whether to replace Mark Hughes with Harry Redknapp but Bournemouth will make an official approach for MK Dons boss Karl Robinson today.

Birmingham are considering a bid to sign former Fulham, Portsmouth and West Ham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop.

And finally, Arsenal are lining up a swoop for Theo Walcott’s potential replacement after joining the race to land Crystal Palace prospect Wilfried Zaha.