Frank Lampard is set to become Chelsea’s first English manager in 23 years

Former Chelsea midfielder, Frank Lampard, is set for a return to the club as manager, accordig to Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol.

“Chelsea have agreed deal with Juventus for Maurizio Sarri. They’ll receive more than £5m compensation. Deal will be announced in next 24 hours.

“Expect Frank Lampard to become Chelsea’s first English manager in 23 years,” Solhekol tweeted.

Lampard’s only managerial experience, has been with Derby County, where he has worked over year in the English Championship.

Chelsea are braced to make the first formal approach for the Derby boss as they waited for Sarri to secure his move back to Italy after just one season in the Premier League.

It was understood Stamford Bridge bosses wanted Lampard to have one more season in management before making a swoop.

But the club’s record goal scorer is the fans’ favourite and the board have now made him a priority after agreeing for Sarri to leave.

He is relatively inexperienced after just one season in management, though he did get the Rams to the play-off final where they were beaten by John Terry’s Aston Villa.

Derby owner Mel Morris insisted he wants to keep Lampard in the Pride Park hotseat – but remains aware of the inevitable temptation of a move back to West London.

Morris told talkSPORT: “One day maybe Frank will manage Chelsea, I don’t doubt that will happen at some point in the future.

Lampard would come back alongside another ex-Chelsea player in Jody Morris, who previously impressed as the club’s Under-18s coach.

Max Allegri, the man Sarri is replacing, was another contender and highly thought after making Juve the dominant force in Italian football.

While two-time Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho told pals he would fancy a third crack with Chelsea and RB Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick was another on the radar.

Chelsea have reluctantly let Sarri go because he made it obvious he wanted out – making it crystal clear in an interview in which he admitted being homesick.

He still has two years left on his £5m a year contract and Stamford Bridge transfer chief Marina Granovskaia was demanding Juve pay the full amount.

Didier Drogba believes Frank Lampard would be an excellent choice to take over from Maurizio Sarri as the next Chelsea manager, with the Italian set to join Juventus.

‘I think it is a very good option for the club,’ the Ivory Coast legend told reporters as he prepares to play in Soccer Aid. ‘He has done well with Derby, taking the team to the play-off final.’

Probed whether one season is enough experience, Drogba continued: ‘So he is never going to be ready, then? Does he have to wait until he is 50 to be ready? ‘I think it depends on your experience and depends on your desire to succeed and do it. If he feels ready I don’t think it is too early.’

Michael Essien, who will also play in the Soccer Aid match at Stamford Bridge, was also asked if Lampard could take over at Chelsea, and replied: ‘Why not? Anything can happen – football is full of surprises. ‘If he comes then it’s brilliant because he knows the club and everyone around it so he would do a good job.’