Chelsea set to sack manager Lampard - reports

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Arsenal v Chelsea - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - August 1, 2020 Chelsea manager Frank Lampard reacts, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Adam Davy/File Photo

Chelsea are on the verge of sacking manager Frank Lampard after a run of five defeats in eight league games left the London side ninth in the Premier League standings, British media reported on Monday.

The Athletic and the Telegraph reported that Lampard, who was hired in 2019 following a stint with Championship club Derby County, could be sacked on Monday, less than a day after Chelsea's 3-1 win over Luton Town in the FA Cup fourth round.

Former Paris St Germain boss Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to replace Lampard, the reports said.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Chelsea - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - December 12, 2020 Chelsea manager Frank Lampard before the match Pool via REUTERS/Jon Super

Lampard, who led Chelsea to a top-four finish and the FA Cup final in his debut 2019-20 campaign in charge, has not got the best out of his squad this season despite the club spending more than 220 million pounds ($300.94 million) on new recruits.

If he is axed, the former England international will become the 12th Chelsea manager to be fired since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

($1 = 0.7310 pounds)

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)