Chelsea began the first leg of their pre-season tour in this huge city in southern China yesterday as they continued their relentless drive to be recognised as the world's leading club by 2014. But, rather than winning new friends, the club are more concerned with keeping hold of one of their own.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager, said that he is speaking to Frank Lampard every day about the tactical plans he has for the England midfield player next season, while Peter Kenyon, the chief executive, also expressed confidence that Lampard will stay at Stamford Bridge.

Kenyon's claims that Chelsea plan to turn the world blue have been used against him, but losing a player they regard as a true Blue would be a huge blow, particularly if he were to join forces with José Mourinho. The former Chelsea manager, now the Inter Milan coach, gave Chelsea hope yesterday of holding on to one of their prized assets by stating that he did not expect Lampard to break the final year of his contract to force a move to the San Siro.

Lampard, 30, has rejected Chelsea's offer of a new £140,000-a-week, four-year contract and is threatening to sign a pre-contract agreement with Inter next January to join on a free transfer next season. “It's easier for Lampard to play to the end of his contract at Chelsea rather than breaking his deal now,” Mourinho said. “It seems unlikely that he will arrive this season, it's easier if he comes next season.”

However, it is unlikely that Mourinho will give up hope of signing one of his favourite players until the last stroke of midnight on August 31, when the transfer window closes, but Scolari's determination to keep hold of Lampard, as he outlined after training in the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, is genuine.

“I have spoken to Frank every day,” Scolari said. “We have spoken about how to win games with Chelsea and no more. We talk about Chelsea, about what's the best way for Chelsea to play and what's the best position for him when he is training with the other players. He is training every day in the morning and afternoon very well. The most important thing is that he is here with us.”

Kenyon said: “It is an important statement he is on tour with us and we have always said that we want Frank to stay and we're confident he will. Everything comes back to Frank at the moment. He is here and he is training exceptionally hard for us. He is a big pro and we're confident he will be with us next season. We accept he is a key member of the team.”

Kenyon also confirmed Chelsea's interest in Robinho, the Real Madrid forward, while dismissing outlandish claims of a world-record bid for Kaká, the AC Milan playmaker and Robinho's Brazil team-mate.

Chelsea's hopes of signing Robinho faded yesterday when he said that he wants to extend his contract at the Bernabéu, but his future will not be resolved until the end of the tortuous Cristiano Ronaldo saga, with Real likely to keep hold of him if they fail to sign the Manchester United winger. “I want to stay at Real Madrid for a long time,” Robinho said. “I'm very happy and I want to continue.”

Kenyon said: “It's well noted we have shown interest in Robinho. We have had discussions with Madrid over it and they are ongoing. The window is still open. There was no offer made for Kaká. AC Milan have made it clear that he is not for sale and we will make it clear we have not made an offer. There is no reason to negotiate over something they don't want to do.”

Chelsea did complete some business yesterday, with Claude Makelele, the midfield player, joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and VfB Stuttgart paying £4million for Khalid Boulahrouz, the defender.

Chelsea also announced that Petr Cech, the goalkeeper, has signed a new contract, thought to be worth £95,000 a week. “I'm really happy that I can stay at Chelsea for many more years,” Cech said. “I gave my first interview when I arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and I had said that it had been my dream to play for one of the best clubs in the world and in the best league in the world - this came true and I am very pleased my dream will last.”