Frank Lampard Downplays Rumours He Could Replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has downplayed rumours he could replace Maurizio Sarri as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Bookmakers have installed Lampard as an option to replace Sarri after Sunday's 6-0 thrashing by Manchester City, but Lampard says he's focused on his current job at Derby County, per FourFourTwo.

"Bookmakers are not always right for starters, so I wouldn't get excited about that. Chelsea are certainly a club I respect and have a manager I respect. My job is here [at Derby] and I'm working very hard.

"All my thoughts are on Ipswich Town away on Wednesday - I hope to see Chelsea put some form together and turn their results around."

Sunday's defeat at the Etihad Stadium saw Chelsea drop down to sixth place in the Premier League. It was also their worst defeat in 28 years:

Sarri was asked about his future at the club after the match:

The Italian also told Sky Italia (h/t ESPN FC's Liam Twomey), he would be happy to hear from owner Roman Abramovich.

"If the president calls, I'd even be happy, seeing as I never hear from him. But I don't know what to expect; people keep asking me what I think about the situation, but I think that's a question which needs to be put to the club."

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Sarri enjoyed a bright start to life at Chelsea in his first season in English football. The Blues went unbeaten in his first 18 league games and did not taste defeat until losing to Tottenham Hotspur in November.

However, Premier League defeats to Arsenal and Bournemouth in January started to put Sarri under pressure, with Chelsea struggling to adapt his favoured style of play.

Meanwhile, Lampard is widely regarded as one of Chelsea's greatest-ever players, having won multiple titles with the club, including the UEFA Champions League in 2012.

He was appointed manager of Derby in 2018 in what is his first managerial role and has said previously it would be a "dream" to take charge of Chelsea, according to Goal's Nizaar Kinsella.