Chelsea have opened talks with club legend Frank Lampard to take over as caretaker manager until the end of the season, claims The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg. The Athletic’s David Ornstein states that the London giants are close to appointing the 44-year-old in a role until the end of the season.
Chelsea Considering Appointment of Frank Lampard as Interim Manager
Lampard Open to Making Chelsea Return
Lampard is currently out of a job after being sacked as Everton manager at the end of January, less than a year into the job. He was in the director’s box for the Blues’ recent game against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool but is not being eyed for the role to permanently replace the fired Graham Potter.
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The Times’ Tom Roddy adds that Lampard is open to the possibility of making a return to Stamford Bridge on a strictly short-term role if his former side really needs him. Steinberg states that Chelsea have open talks with Lampard over taking this role and that if things go smoothly, he could be in the Chelsea dugout as interim manager as soon as the Premier League game against Wolves on Saturday. Of course, some Chelsea fans have been left upset by this development – hitting out at the club for going back for the manager who was sacked by Everton only a few months ago.
Oh my God. We're a laughing stock. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/YdtnMiYPod
— Enzo² (@Tocreed1) April 5, 2023
Roddy also states that the Blues are conducting a thorough process in appointing their next permanent manager, with as many as seven names being considered by the club’s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. It’s also stated that former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique and ex-Bayern Munich gaffer Julian Nagelsmann are two of the major names that are being considered as ideal candidates to replace Potter as their new manager.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Lampard has given the green light on this move, meaning it’s just up to the board at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard Shares Close Ties to Chelsea
The 44-year-old Englishman had an iconic career at Stamford Bridge after joining them from West Ham United in 2001. Indeed, Lampard spent 13 years with the London giants and played a leading role in their rise under Roman Abramovich – helping the Blues win three Premier League titles, four FA Cup trophies, and a coveted Champions League title during his time as a player.
Lampard scored 211 goals and provided 145 assists in 648 appearances for Chelsea as a player and then made his return to Stamford Bridge after being appointed as their manager in 2019 – becoming the first Englishman to manage the club in over two decades.
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However, he failed to deliver the goods for the Blues – only being able to take them into the FA Cup final and securing a top-4 finish in his first season – before being sacked midway through his second campaign for poor results. That said, it appears that Lampard could have astrong chance of returning as Chelsea’s interim manager and helping them end the season strongly.
