Frank Lampard will remain at Manchester City for the balance of the season to delay his move to New York City FC.

NYCFC confirmed that Lampard will miss the start of the MLS campaign, an absence that could extend into the summer, though the team said in a statement that Lampard's "exact starting date with New York City FC will be confirmed as the EPL and MLS seasons unfold."

NYCFC signed Lampard in July after he parted ways with Chelsea, the club where the England international enjoyed great success over 13 seasons, finishing as the Blues' all-time leading scorer with 211 goals in all competitions.

Chelsea is finalizing a £7 million transfer for Andrej Kramaric, subject to a medical, with the player to be loaned immediately to Vitesse Arnhem.

The striker, who has scored twice in four appearances for the national squad, has been prolific for HNK Rijeka with 28 goals in all competitions this term and will join a trio of Chelsea players – Wallace, Bertrand Traoré and Josh McEachran – already on loan at Vitesse.

Kramaric had also interested Juventus and Leicester City.

Schalke have confirmed they are working on a deal for Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic.

Nastasic, 21, joined City from Fiorentina in 2012 but, after a bright start, missed the majority of the 2013-14 campaign through injury.

"Yes, we are after him," Schalke chief Clemens Tonnies said. "Our coach, Roberto Di Matteo, has him in his plans. Also, the player absolutely wants to come to us."

Schalke would initially seek a loan arrangement for Nastasic, who is under contract until 2017.

Brendan Rodgers has ruled out the possibility of Mario Balotelli returning to Italy on loan in the new year and insisted Liverpool can still look forward to an exciting second half of the season.

Liverpool does not expect Balotelli to play a central role for the rest of the season.

“It is not something I have even thought about, to be honest,” Rodgers said. “We have had a lot of games this season and a lot of competitions and at this moment the key for me is trying to keep this squad together.”

Stoke City are interested in acquiring midfielder Sergi Roberto on a six-month loan deal following the success of Bojan Krkic and Marc Muniesa from Barcelona's youth academy.

Sergi Roberto has failed to consistent minutes this season, falling behind the likes of Ivan Rakitic, an in-form Xavi Hernandez and Luis Enrique’s preferred choice Rafinha, instead settling for the odd 20 minutes at the end of decided matches and Copa game.

Sergi recently signed a contract extension last September, which ties him to the Camp Nou until 2019.

Adnan Januzaj has made just four starts for Manchester United under Louis van Gaal, but he will not be allowed to leave in January on a loan.

Januzaj enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford last season, making 27 Premier League appearances under David Moyes.

The arrival of Angel Di Maria and emergence of young striker James Wilson have pushed Januzaj further down the pecking order, but Van Gaal has moved to quash any talk of a temporary exit.

When asked if Januzaj needs the experience of playing elsewhere on loan, Van Gaal told United's official Twitter account: "No. He is a player of United."

Atlético Madrid and A.C. Milan have agreed upon an 18-month loan of Alessio Cerci for Fernando Torres.

Torres is on a two-year loan from Chelsea and had been disappointing for Milan, but he will now have the opportunity to return to his boyhood club of Atleti.

Cerci has struggled to find playing time under Diego Simeone at Atleti after leaving Torino.

AC Milan and Atlético Madrid have opened talks about a swap of Fernando Torres for Alessio Cerci.

Torres is on a two-year loan from Chelsea to Milan, but has scored just once in 10 Serie A appearances and not at all since Nov. 23.

Milan had initially hoped to cancel the arrangement with Chelsea, but the London club are adamant the player is not returning to José Mourinho’s squad. “We have no space,” said the Portuguese when asked recently. “We have no space for players in our list, either in the Champions League or the Premier League.”

Cerci has struggled with Atleti.

Any deal would have to be sanctioned by Chelsea.

Manuel Pellegrini hopes to keep Frank Lampard until the end of the season and also claimed last week that Lampard wanted to stay longer.

Lampard is on loan from sister club New York City FC of the MLS.

It might be that Pellegrini has to settle for a shorter arrangement - for an extra month or two - but no decisions have yet been made.

Pellegrini said: “It is not just our decision. If you ask me if I want Frank to stay, of course I want him to stay.

“He is a very important player for our squad and he is playing very well, as the top player he is. Maybe in the next days we will be sure but I cannot be 100% at this moment.”

José Mourinho says there is no chance of Fernando Torres returning to Chelsea from his loan move to AC Milan.

Torres has struggled at Milan, which has led to speculation he could be offloaded.

Pressed on whether it was true that Milan are seeking to end the deal, Mourinho said: "I don't know but he's on loan for two seasons at AC Milan."

Chelsea added Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy to his squad over the summer.

"He's our player but he's on loan. We have no space for players in the list, either in the Champions League or Premier League. That's an impossible picture," he said.