Chelsea offer Makelele two-year deal extension

Chelsea have opened talks with Claude Makelele over a two-year extension to his contract until 2011.

Despite being 35 years old, the midfielder has continued to impress and Chelsea want him to prolong his career as long as possible.

Makelele, who is set to face England tonight, will retire from international football after playing for France at Euro 2008 and the club hope it will improve his stamina. Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Makelele at the start of the season he would play less frequently and picked him only twice before he left the club in September.

But the former Real Madrid midfielder has made 24 appearances under Mourinho's replacement Avram Grant. Makelele's deal finishes at the end of next season but Chelsea have given him the option of a one-year and two-year extension and he will make his decision after Euro 2008.

The Frenchman is still considered better than club-mates Jon Obi Mikel and Michael Essien at the defensive position in front of the back four.

Meanwhile, an Olso court today found former Lyn director Morgan Andersen guilty of fraud and making false accusations in the case that stemmed from Mikel's contract dispute. Andersen was put on probation for two years and ordered to pay £2,500 costs. He immediately appealed.