Next Derby manager: Frank Lampard in advanced talks over taking first manager's job

Negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage, with contractual issues now being discussed

Lampard could be about to take his first steps into management (Getty)

Frank Lampard is in advanced talks with Derby about becoming their next manager.

Negotiations are believed to be at an advanced stage, with contractual issues now being discussed.

Derby have been without a manager since Gary Rowett left to take over at Stoke last week, and Lampard has been an odds-on favourite with the bookmakers to fill the vacant position at Pride Park for much of that time.

The 39-year-old is looking to take his first step into management after a glittering playing career and he confirmed over the weekend that he had been talking with the Rams.

"There's been interest from Derby and I've been speaking with them," Lampard said as a BT Sport pundit during Saturday night's Champions League final coverage in Kiev.

He added: "I'm ambitious and I want to become a manager at some point. It's a big club, with a big tradition and a big history, which I really like. We'll carry on speaking when I go home, and we'll see."

Those talks have resumed and Derby hope to be in a position to make an announcement this week.

Lampard, who was also linked with the vacant job at Ipswich, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League during his playing career, as well as earning 106 England caps.

Lampard has been working in TV since retiring in 2016 (Sky Sports)

Derby finished this season sixth in the Championship but their promotion challenge was once again halted in the play-offs, losing to Fulham in the semi-finals.