Following the heartbreak of Chelsea's penalty shoot-out defeat in Moscow, Frank Lampard says he is finally ready to discuss his future at Stamford Bridge.

The England midfielder has endured a tortuous time since the death of his mother last month, and maybe given the harrowing personal circumstances he has had to confront has been quick to put last night's defeat into perspective.

Lampard's current contract expires next summer, and discussions over a new deal had been put on hold until the end of the season, sparking reports that the player was ready to sign for Inter Milan. Lampard has always denied those reports and remains confident a deal can be agreed, albeit after England's friendly internationals with the USA and Trinidad & Tobago.

"I have got to talk to the club," said Lampard. "My contract has obviously been the last thing on my mind in the last six weeks, but I will sit down and talk with them after the England games.

"I hope we can come to a conclusion. I am pretty confident we can. I have said that many times before." But Lampard insists the club will continue to progress irrespective of who is in charge of the side.

The position of Avram Grant remains less certain, but whatever happens Lampard says the club must come first.

"What is important is that the club moves forward whatever happens with the personnel," Lampard added. "We've given it everything this year and it wasn't quite to be. But the strength of a club is how you return when you have that little knock back."