Four managers have been named as Chelsea’s ‘primary options’ to replace Frank Lampard should the west London side lose patience with the under-fire manager.
Chelsea have dropped to ninth in the Premier League following a disappointing run of form over the festive period, with the Blues having lost four of their past six league fixtures following a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Lampard has come under increasing pressure following the club’s struggles this season and after a debut campaign of promise has struggled to improve the side, despite being handed more than £220m to sign new players during the summer transfer window.
Chelsea are reportedly prepared to give the 42-year-old time to turn around the club’s fortunes despite Lampard boasting the worst record of any manager in the Roman Abramovich era, though the Independent are reporting that contingency plans are in place should results fail to improve.
Four managers have been named as ‘primary options’ to replace Lampard should he be sacked, with Chelsea considering Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhuttl as potential candidates.
Thomas Tuchel – sacked by Paris Saint-Germain last month – is also on the Blues’ radar, with former Juventus manager Max Allegri the fourth name on the shortlist.
Lampard has been accused in some sections of not knowing his best side or system, whilst he has failed to get the best from several of his summer signings – including marquee arrivals Kai Havertz and Timo Werner with the latter currently in the midst of a 12-game goal drought in all competitions.
Chelsea next face Morecambe in the FA Cup third round this weekend, before a west London derby with Fulham in the Premier League on January 15.
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