Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is unsure if Frank Lampard will be allowed to extend his loan from New York City FC.
Lampard's loan is due to expire at the end of the month.
Pellegrini hopes to keep the influential 36-year-old until the end of the season and also claimed last week that Lampard wanted to stay longer.
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. 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 per cent at this moment."