Derby manager Frank Lampard is set for talks with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich this week, according to the Sun.
They claim that the two will meet on Abramovich’s yacht, currently anchored off St Tropez, with Lampard currently holidaying in France.
Lampard is the favourite to be the new Chelsea manager but Derby are demanding £4million in compensation and still need to give permission for the talks to take place.
The Sun claims that Lampard is keen on the job and that the Chelsea fans want him as their new manager.
A good move for Chelsea?
They seem convinced that Lampard is the man who can come in and unite the club, but we’re not so sure. Lampard has only been a manager for one year and people were questioning whether he would be able to cope with the Derby role last year. Getting them into the play-offs was an achievement but he rode his luck into the final and his Derby side never looked capable of beating Aston Villa. Tactically, he seemed lost at times in the big games. Leeds were the better side over the two semi-final legs after beating Derby twice in the Championship. Lampard was hailed after bringing on Jack Marriott just before half-time in the second leg of the semi-final, with Derby 2-0 down on aggregate. Marriott scored with his first touch of the game but the goal came about from a catastrophic error between Liam Cooper and Kiko Casilla. That mistake was the turning point of the game not Lampard’s tactical nous – something that had been lacking in the three-and-a-half games against Leeds up to that goal. The Chelsea job is a huge one and we’re not sure that a deep bond with the club is enough.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10
Likely to happen?
It looks like it. Money talks and Derby have already named their price. £4million is a huge amount of money to receive for your manager but it’s a drop in the ocean for Chelsea. If they want Lampard, and it looks like they do, then they’ll pay the money and land their man. We fully expect Lampard to be Chelsea’s new boss come August.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10