Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho regards Frank Lampard as "the best professional I have ever worked with" as speculation continues over the future of the Chelsea midfielder.

Ever since former Blues boss Mourinho took the reins at the San Siro Lampard has been linked with a move to the Serie A giants.

The 30-year-old is reported to be refusing to accept Chelsea's four-year contract offer while the Nerazzurri have already had two bids rejected for the England midfielder.

Chelsea are adamant they will not sell the player but attempts to get Lampard to sign a new, long-term contract have failed and his agent, Steve Kutner, claims that his client's situation is "completely unresolved".

Lampard's contract talks have been ongoing for two years without a successful conclusion and Chelsea are in danger of allowing the midfielder to walk away on a free transfer in 12 months' time.

And Mourinho has admitted has a number of qualities which he looks for in a professional footballer and potential signings.

Speaking to Ford's FeelFootball.com debate programme Mourinho said: "Frank Lampard is a different kind of person, not so extroverted. He is the best professional I have ever worked with.

"He's the player that trains better, has more concentration, more commitment and is always focused on himself.

"He is never happy about his performance, always wants to improve, always wants to learn. If he makes a mistake in a game, the next day in training he wants to stay one more hour to practice exactly that situation.

"I remember he missed a goal once with a difficult left-foot volley and the next day in training he was there one hour after the training session practising that volley with the left foot."

Mourinho added: "You know I had a captain in Porto, unbelievable, Jorge Costa. I think that's why he's a manager now, he was already like my assistant because of his character.

"He's the kind of player that is ready to die to win and I think the players admire this kind of character. In Chelsea I was lucky too because I had a nucleus of these kinds of characters.

"The African group I could say was a group of characters - Claude Makelele, William Gallas, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien - this group of players had incredible character.

"And John Terry was a great captain, too. Lampard is incredibly professional.

"God gave players the talent. Some of them waste this talent but some of them with this kind of mentality make themselves better and these are the kind of the players that can last forever."

More news from SportingLife.com