Frank Lampard will reportedly be the next manager of Chelsea with Maurizio Sarri on the brink of the sack at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard has led Derby into the playoffs in his first season as a manager this season and Blues chiefs are said to have been impressed by the job he has done.
Sarri is under huge pressure in west London despite securing Chelsea’s return to the Champions League next term with a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
He could also end his first campaign in England with silverware when the Blues face Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku later this month.
But it still might not be enough for him to hold on to his job amid criticism from supporters, and Italian outlet Sport Mediaset say Lampard has already been ‘booked’ as his replacement.
Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time top goal scorer, finding the net on 211 occasions in 648 games for the club.
He won three Premier League titles, one Champions League and one Europa League during his time as a player at the Bridge.
Lampard takes his Derby side to Leeds this evening for the second leg of their Championship playoff semi-final.
The Rams are 1-0 down after the first fixture after Kemar Roofe’s goal gave Leeds the most slender of advantages at Pride Park.