Frank Lampard: Chelsea appointment ‘not a done deal’, says Derby County owner Mel Morris
Former Chelsea midfielder is in talks to take over as Maurizio Sarri’s replacement
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Your support makes all the difference.Derby County owner Mel Morris has stressed that Frank Lampard’s move to Chelsea is “not a done deal”, despite talks beginning with the manager and his former club about replacing Maurizio Sarri.
Chelsea are understood to have agreed a £4m compensation deal with Derby in order to discuss personal terms with Lampard, who left the club in 2014 after a 13-year trophy-laden career with the Blues.
That relationship between the two involved parties is almost certain to end up with the 41-year-old being appointed as Sarri’s replacement following the Italian’s abrupt departure to take the Juventus job, but Morris is hopeful that Lampard will decide to stick with Derby for another season, even if the thought of him taking over at Chelsea is an inevitability.
“When Frank met me, from the first time we talked about this opportunity, even then we knew at some stage this would happen,” Morris told Talksport.
“We just didn't know when and we thought it would be some way off.
“Right now it's still not a done deal as far as I am concerned. I am hoping this guy will manage us next season. At some point it will happen, whether now or in the future.
“We are going to have a tough time if Frank goes. If Frank had done a poor job this wouldn’t be happening.”
Should Lampard choose to leave as expected, Morris believes the philosophy that he has installed must remain in place at the club regardless of who take over. Both Garry Monk and Darren Moore are on the shortlist of potential replacements after being sacked by Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion last season respectively, while Morris revealed that he has already received 12 applications to replace Lampard should be leave.
But the progression path developed last season from academy to first team under Lampard’s watch is one that the new manager will need to maintain.
“We have seen this last season how things have come together, the pathway between the academy and the first team, the style of football,”
“Forget the background of the manager, the person we bring in if Frank moves on has to allow us to maintain the style of play and bring academy players into the first team, while making sure they are ready.”
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