Chelsea: 3 potential managers that could replace Frank Lampard

With increasing pressure on the second-year manager Frank Lampard, we take a closer look at top candidates to fill the Chelsea manager role.

Frank Lampard, Chelsea club legend and manager entered his second year with momentum after a top-four finish despite a transfer embargo and the derailing of a global pandemic. The London club put to use over £200 million into the squad this summer with the signings of young, attacking star players across Europe as the club looked poised to improve on a 66 point season which sat 33 points behind table-topping Liverpool.

After completing marquee signings for Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, and Hakim Ziyech, more was to be expected from Lampard who emphasized young, club-grown players in his first year as the Chelsea boss. A reasonable adjustment period for the club’s new signings was to be expected as Lampard looked to overhaul the core of the starting 11. However, £47 million center forward Werner has struggled to produce out wide given injuries to Chelsea’s winger, and £72 million midfielder Havertz has struggled to find consistency and a position in his first four months at the club.

Despite the inconsistent play from Chelsea’s expensive signings, pressure has significantly increased in recent weeks given the club’s poor stretch of form. Chelsea has won just one match in their last six Premier League contest, capturing only four of a potential eighteen points. Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea only remains seven points behind Liverpool, with both clubs playing 17 Premier League matches.

It is not unreasonable then to expect a club to retain their manager just midway through their second year in a bizarre season in which any club could win a title, but business is run differently at Chelsea during the Roman Abramovich era. Managers are changed more often than most people change their air filters despite expensive buyouts and trophies won for the club. After the most recent 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, a source told The Athletic that, “Chelsea have begun to explore alternative plans with a view to replacing Lampard if the current slump continues, if not sooner.”

With pressure continuing to mount on the Chelsea manager, we take a closer look into those potential alternative plans.