Chelsea to step up Frank Lampard pursuit TODAY and hope to strike deal for Derby boss to replace Sarri by end of week

CHELSEA hope to hire Frank Lampard as manager by the end of the week after stepping up their pursuit of the Derby boss.

The Blues are without a head coach after Maurizio Sarri joined Juventus on a three-year contract last night.

Lampard, 40, is Chelsea's No1 choice to replace the Italian.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, ex-Juve manager Max Allegri and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag are also being considered.

Chelsea chiefs will today accelerate plans to bring him back to Stamford Bridge.

Club legend Lampard has two years left on his Derby deal having only taken charge last May.

That contract means the Blues will have to agree a compensation package with the Rams.

Juve paid £7m to land Sarri and it is believed Chelsea will have to stump up about £4m for Lampard.

Derby today confirmed there had not yet been an approach from the Blues and stressed their desire to keep him at the club.

Lampard led Derby to the Championship play-off final, where they were beaten by Aston Villa, in his debut season as a manager.

SunSport revealed trigger-happy Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will give Lamps time to find his feet - unless he has a catastrophic start.

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He will be taking over a squad that lost Eden Hazard while the club is also serving a transfer ban.

But Chelsea believe Lampard can instil a feel-good factor at the club and are hopeful he can bring on young players in the way he got the best out of loanees Mason Mount and Fikayo Timori at Pride Park.

The Blues last night thanked Sarri, 60, for his services - and paid a glowing tribute to his Sarri-ball style of play.

Chain-smoking Sarri led Chelsea to Europa League glory and and third place in the Premier League.

A club statement read: "Sarri achieved this while implementing a new style of play and a change in formation which was spoken of favourably by members of the squad."

Director Marina Granovskaia said: "In talks we had following the Europa League final, Maurizio made it clear how strongly he desired to return to his native country, explaining that his reasons for wanting to return to work in Italy were significant.

"He also believed it important to be nearer his family, and for the well-being of his elderly parents he felt he needed to live closer to them at this point.

"Maurizio leaves Chelsea with thanks from us all for the work he and his assistants did during the season he spent as our head coach, and for winning the Europa League, guiding us to another cup final and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

"We would also like to congratulate him on securing the role as big as any in Serie A and to wish him the best of luck for the future."

In addition, ESPN name Rams assistant Jody Morris and fitness coach Chris Jones as likely to follow the ex-midfielder to West London.

And a three-year contract is planned to give Lampard breathing space to bring through young talent.